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
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