A Sweet and Charming Southern Style Wedding

What do we have today? Oh just a happy couple in love marrying along the beautiful Miami coastline with pretty pastel pink and grey wedding colors and lovely little vintage details like a gorgeous lace parasol (in case you didn’t know I have a fetish for parasols!), small antique frames, and a ruffled cake! This sweet and charming southern-style beach wedding made me extra happy when it came over my way from Alicja Colon of Taken Photography. Alicja captured some seriously goregous wedding photos of this initmate beach wedding with bright blue skies and whisps of soft clouds as a backdrop. LOVE.

Here’s a few more details from the Oceanside Bride: The groom grew up in the suberbs of Detroit Michigan. I grew up in Northern Minnesota. We met at a restaurant on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. I was there for dinner with my sister and best friend. He was there with a friend and his friend’s girlfriend for a happy hour. According to Britten he says he told his friend he thought I was cute.  His friend then took it upon himself to come over and try to “hook us up”  Needless to say, I was hooked alright! Britten is the greatest guy I have ever met and in his wedding vows he told me I am his best friend.

How and why did you choose your destination/location? I always wanted to get married with my toes in the sand and we both love Florida.  We picked Miami because we knew there would be a fun night life there for our younger guests.

What unique elements or DIY projects did you incorporate into your big day to help make it extra special? I ordered fresh cut flowers and my mother in law made the flower arrangements the morning of the wedding. Instead of a traditional slide show I put old photographs in small antique looking frames that I had found at craft shops and had them scattered all over the tables for the guests to see as they ate.

What challenges (if any) did you face while planning your destination wedding? I had to trust in vendors that I had never met to make our event fantastic.  I met the DJ and the Reverend who married us the day of the wedding. Guests went back and forth with whether or not they were coming. Some rsvp’d yes and then called back a few weeks later to say they couldn’t afford to come.

What was the best thing about having a destination wedding? Share your best wedding weekend moment! It is a vacation and a wedding all in one. We had the best time hanging out with our friends and family on the beach before the wedding.  The groom’s  brother brought his guitar down to the beach and played songs for us as we relaxed in the sun. The best part of the weekend was for us to be able to have all our close friends and family on an awesome vacation together. The memories are priceless.

What is your best advice for other couples considering a destination wedding? You have to be a patient and trusting person.  Be aware that snafu’s are going to happen.  Also be prepared for people to be unable to come.  I had invited some people very close to me who did not come, but I know they would have been there if we had gotten married at home.

I recently uncovered this love for pink that I never even knew I had in me! I love soft palettes against the natural blues of the seas and sky and creamy sand.  I’m so happy Alicja passed this pretty seaside wedding along to me to share. Wishing the newlyweds Alison and Britten lots of happiness and love in their new journey in life together!

 

Bride and Groom:  Alison and Britten
Wedding Date:  April 16, 2011
Location (City, State, Country): Miami Beach, Florida, USA
Approximate Guest Size:  50 guests
Ceremony Venue:  On the beach of The Palms Hotel
Reception Venue:  On The Palms Veranda Terrace

The Creative Team Behind the Scenes:

Photography: Taken Photography / Officiant: Eddie Rodriquez / DJ: Party Nation / Caterer:  The Palms Hotel and Spa

This wedding was submitted via Two Bright Lights!