Jen and Alex desired a wedding filled with southern simplicity, and planned to DIY many wedding details to help maximize their budget. Their Florida roots inspired such details as the painted blue mason jars, cut log risers, collection of bud vases and lanterns, program fans, burlap table runners, and Southern-inspired menu items. They wanted a rustic Autumn feel to the day but were drawn to shades of Aqua and Aubergine (the shade of purple was in honor of the bride's Dad who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer; she was surprised with a photo locket on her bouquet so he would be walking her down the aisle). The couple wanted to honor their family members who could not be present with them that day, while also providing a great experience for their closest friends and family who were present. Although a thunderstorm thwarted their outdoor ceremony plans, they did not let it ruin our day because they remembered the big picture and what was really important that day which was being with all the people they love, and marrying your best friend (all brides and grooms should have this outlook!) The Magnolia Building's vaulted ceilings, wood floors, and stone fireplace made for a stunning backdrop for both the indoor ceremony and the reception that followed.
Meghann and Friedel - A Homespun Garden Wedding
Meghann and Friedel met when their mutual friends decided to play matchmaker and invited each of them to an FSU football game. After spending the entire weekend together, they returned to Tampa and went on their first official date a few weeks later. When Friedel proposed, he gave Meghann a gorgeous antique ring from the turn of the 20th century. Meghann, a health-minded dietitian, and Friedel, a landscape designer and small business owner, wanted to create a welcoming atmosphere for their wedding guests - like they were all among family. They chose the Davis Islands Garden Club as a gorgeous backdrop for these nature-lovers' nuptials. Meghann wanted to DIY elements of the wedding to offer a personal touch, including herb-infused olive oils at an Olive Oil Tasting Station, home-made Florida orange marmalade favor jars that doubled as escort cards, sourced vintage furnishings for a Cigar Bar area, and old family frames suspended from tree branches as an open-air photo booth space. They chose a color palette of eggplant and palm green, and incorporated such details as a Farmers Market display of local fresh produce and cheeses (as a nod to the bride's passion for healthy living), garden details like tin flower cans as vases, and vintage elements like lace overlays, mismatched china at the place settings, and mason jars down the aisle. They wanted a personal touch for their guests, to the escort cards were displayed on clotheslines along with personal pictures of the couple with each guest from over the years! The couple agree that the most memorable aspect of their wedding was exchanging their self-written vows as they committed their lives to each other forever. For future couples, they offer this advice: "make it personal, and make sure you savor every moment the day of your wedding as it goes by in a flash, so take mental pictures whenever you can so you walk away with personal snapshots of all the memories!"