Southern Weddings

While it may be starting to feel like fall around many parts of the South, I can assure you, it still feels like summer in Florida! For their end-of-May wedding, Kristina and Kyle worked with the talented Anthology Co. Floristry to create a “tropical romance” feel and welcome their out-of-town guests to the beauty of Miami. From the floral structure over The Bath Club‘s fireplace to the tiny pineapples incorporated into the decor, I’m pretty sure guests were in awe…however, I’m sure that’s not the only thing they were admiring! Judging by the sweet snippet of their personal vows, I can only imagine how inspired Kristina and Kyle’s guests were by this adorable couple and their love for each other!

Gracious we’re so happy Blue Ribbon Vendor Elaine Palladino was on hand to snap all the sweet moments and gorgeous blooms!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. From Kyle: Kristina and I met on a cold Saturday night in Tallahassee. It was fall semester at Florida State University and, like any good college kids on a cold night, we were gathering for a bonfire behind my friend Todd’s house. Although I was rarely on time for school, I was never late for non-affiliated after school activities. I was there early to help set up the tables, chairs, music and, of course, the beverage station. Kristina and her friends were among the first to arrive. I introduced myself when she walked into the backyard, but we didn’t really meet until later that night when I was offered a seat near Kristina and her friends by the bonfire. Kristina and I ended up in immediate conversation, and before I knew it, our chairs were next to one another, where they remained for the rest of the evening. Conversation was easy because we had so much in common, including, we learned, an Intro to Film class. We ended up being the last people to leave that night, but before Kristina left, I said, “I’d ask for your number, but I’ll just get it from you in class.” I still think that was pretty smooth.

Veronica of Anthology Co. Floristry is not just a florist–she is a flower artist. Her arrangements are sculptural, interesting, and, above all, beautiful. She translated my vision of tropical romance perfectly. I wanted bold, saturated blooms with lots of greenery and texture, and she delivered just that. The structure she built around the fireplace was breathtaking! I could not be happier with how the flowers turned out.

What made you choose your ceremony and reception venues? Did they have any special significance to you? Since most of our family and friends were coming from out of town, we wanted a venue that was within walking distance to a hotel on the beach where everyone could stay. We didn’t want a traditional hotel ballroom, which made our search tricky! The Bath Club was the perfect choice for us. It was built in 1926 and has served as a private cabana venue for celebrities and presidents throughout the years. I loved the beautiful Spanish architecture and dark wood.

My uncle graciously agreed to marry us and it made it so much more beautiful and personal to have someone we love guiding such an important moment. We also chose to do a wine box ceremony, where you seal a bottle of wine along with notes written to each other to open on your fifth anniversary, or if you should ever need a reason to remember why you got married. We love good wine and it gave us a reason to buy a great bottle that we look forward to drinking on our fifth anniversary.

Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We wrote our own vows, which was a very important detail for me. I wanted to share our own words of love with all of our friends and family on that day. Kyle is an amazing writer and every line of his vows was so special. I loved when he said, “Even though you are so easy to love, I promise to never take it for granted. I never want to get comfortable and forget that our time here is short.”

It was important for us to have a table with pictures of our parents and grandparents showing the love that brought us to this point. Most of our grandparents were unable to be with us at the wedding, but having the table with their pictures helped us feel their presence.

What was one way you saved money or cut costs at your wedding? I have a knack for calligraphy and design, so I designed all of the paper products and did the calligraphy for our envelopes (which took forever!). I also designed the booklet for our welcome bag that contained all of our favorite things to do in Miami. On the day of the wedding, I chose to do my own makeup, which was such a good decision for me. It came out exactly the way I wanted it and I still looked like me. I am so glad I could put my personal stamp on all of these things, but it was a huge undertaking!

I have so many favorite details! Our wedding was hands down the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Above all, the flowers by Anthology Co. were absolutely show-stopping, especially the structure over the fireplace and all of the palms and tiny pineapples! I also loved both sets of cake toppers: our mice “cheese cake” toppers that have been passed down to me from my mother, and our vintage kitty salt and pepper shakers on our wedding cake that were gifted to me by Kyle’s cousin.

We chose Earth and Sugar to make our wedding cakes because we wanted a really delicious vegan cake. Janderyn made three delicious flavor combinations for us: chocolate cake with fresh raspberry filling, vanilla cake with fresh pineapple filling, and vanilla cake with fresh passion fruit filling. They were absolutely delicious and beautiful! Our caterer, Stephen Starr Events, provided tiny dessert bites like key lime ice cream sandwiches, salted caramel bars, brownie bites, and tropical meringues.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Brides, do yourself a huge favor and buy beautiful, amazing, flat shoes. Maybe even make flats (or tiny heels) your main shoe choice. Heels are absolutely beautiful, but with the amount of time I was standing for pictures and walking, my feet were killing me before I even walked down the aisle. And my back-up shoes were a “more comfortable” pair of heels! Terrible! Thankfully, my photographer, Elaine, convinced me to bring a pair of sandals with me, which I ended up wearing for most of the night. But they were not cute. Another piece of advice is to think beforehand about what you want to spend your time doing during the reception, whether that’s being able to talk to everyone, really eat and enjoy the meal, take a lot of pictures in the photo booth, or dance all night, because you will not be able to do it all! Make sure you don’t regret not doing something you really wanted to do.

Tell us all about the proposal! It was May 23, and I knew something was afoot because a week earlier, Kyle had told me about a new meteor shower called Camelopardalis that he wanted to see. We planned to drive to Anne’s Beach in Islamorada, known for its low pollution, making it perfect for stargazing! He also made a reservation for us to eat dinner at a French restaurant on the way. After hearing about this reservation, I knew I had to do my nails, because this was it! We had a long dinner with my favorite, escargot, and Kyle’s favorite, fresh fish, along with delicious French wine and bread. We then made the drive to Islamorada with the windows down while we listened to old jazz. To my surprise, Kyle had filled the trunk of the car with the works: sheets, pillows, wine, cookies, cheese, and crackers. We set up camp at the beach and laid under the stars. It was truly amazing. We watched the stars for hours–we got there at probably around 11 P.M., and by 2 A.M., I was sure he wouldn’t propose that night after all. I was even getting ready to tell him on the drive back that he missed the perfect opportunity! Then, all of a sudden, he told me he needed to get something from the car, and he came back with the ring! Of course, I said yes, and he brought out champagne to celebrate as I was using the flashlights to try and see my new ring. We stayed for several more hours and didn’t get home until the sun was already rising. It was an unforgettable night.
When did y’all get married? May 30, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 180
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. Walking down the aisle, The Wynwoods played an acoustic version of “La Vie en Rose.” I fell in love with the song on a trip to Paris with my mom. It is just the most beautiful love song and I knew I would one day walk down the aisle to it. It was also my Abuela’s favorite song, and because of her Alzheimer’s, she was unable to be at our wedding, so it was a small way to honor her as well. Our recessional song was “Wouldn’t it be Nice” by The Beach Boys. Kyle and I love The Beach Boys (who doesn’t!) and it is such a fun and happy song. Our first dance song was “Harvest Moon.” Neil Young has been a constant in our relationship–I didn’t have a car when we first started dating, so Kyle drove me around most of the time. He was having a big Neil Young kick at the time, so hearing Neil Young now always brings me back to our first months together!
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Definitely walking down the aisle. All of the months of planning are leading up to that exact moment: walking down the aisle to meet the person you want to build your life with. There was so much commotion and excitement on the day of our wedding, and it was all very overwhelming. But hearing The Wynwoods play their acoustic version of “La Vie en Rose” and seeing Kyle at the end of the aisle, with my parents right beside me, was the best part. There is a picture of my parents and I at the end of the aisle, where my mom and I on the verge of tears (I had been crying happy tears pretty much all day, I was SO emotional!) and that it immediately brings me back to what I was feeling in that moment. It was the happiest moment of my life.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? I feel incredibly lucky to call Kyle my husband now. We are continuing to weave our lives together and look forward to growing our family!
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your wedding? The best thing I didn’t know I wanted: Stephen Starr Events provided amazing food, but what surprised us the most was our personal waiter who took care of us the whole night! He always had a glass of water (or champagne!) at the ready for us on the sidelines. It was amazing!

Photographer: Elaine Palladino / Videographer: Pabelona Studio / Planner: Miranda Estes / Venue: The Bath Club / Florist: Anthology Co. Floristry / Cake Baker: Earth and Sugar / Caterer: Stephen Starr Events / Rentals: Unearthed Vintage / Lighting: Illumene / Band: The Wynwoods Band / DJ: DJ Mike Kruz / Invitations: Bella Figura / Other Paper Goods: Moo / Bride’s Gown: “Juliet” by Reem Acra / Bride’s Hair Comb: “English Violet” by Halo & Co. / Bride’s Earrings: “Disco Pansy” by Kate Spade / Bride’s Engagement Ring: Trumpet & Horn / Wedding Bands: Catbird NY / Hair and Makeup: Carolyn Jones Makeup / Bride’s Shoes: “Hollie” by Badgely Mischka and “Opalize” by Anne Klein / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy, White by Vera Wang, and Assali / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss and Ryan Seacrest / Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux / Vintage Stamps: TreasureFox / Linens: Over the Top Linens / Photo Booth: Capture Pod / Cigar Roller: On-Site Cigars / Getting Ready Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar

Elaine Palladino is a delightful member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Marissa