Gina & John {September Wedding at Carillon Beach}

This memorable Italian wedding was destined for greatness! After choosing Carillon Beach for their destination wedding, everyone was able to come together from all over the Southeast {from Boca Raton to Tennessee} to plan this beautiful event. It was so much fun bringing the feel of Tuscany to the Emerald Coast!  Gina & John were such a fun couple with fun quirks and details {wait until you see the Yoohoo cake!}.

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

There’s nothing better than having your mom by your side as you get ready for your big day, and an added bonus of a perfect view of the Gulf!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

The details were all in place as we anxiously awaited the arrival of their 70 guests.

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

With a larger bridal party in the Meeting House, it’s often best to split the groomsmen and the bridesmaids on each side. This makes it less of a tight squeeze in the Meeting House. Of course, good ol’ Rev. Harry Houseman always puts everyone at ease!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

Ahh… the lighting was just perfect on these newlyweds! John & Gina had a little time to kill before entering the cocktail hour, so Rae & Wesley {Rae Leytham Photography} found these perfect spots for a photo op!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

A little wind makes for a cute, silly walkover picture! I love moments like these!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

It’s hard to beat our beautiful beaches at sunset!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

Gina’s head table was completely breath-taking. Nothing says “Tuscany” more than grape leaf vines and romantic, candlelit lanterns. The vintage French pottery added a perfect, European touch!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

Wine bottle chandeliers were impressively hung inside the tent. The dark wooden pergolas were custom-built to house her head table, and all the little surprises in between. Naturally, yummy olive oil and spices were placed at each table for dipping the French baguettes into.  It certainly created the cozy mealtime that Gina was going for!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

After that killer dinner, it was cake cutting time! This beautiful work of art by Rhonda {Confections on the Coast} came with another fun treat for the groom! Although not an alcohol drinker, his friends know him for his love of Yoohoo consumption. It was such a great addition to the wedding smiles!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

I think everyone got a kick of how realistic the Yoohoo cans really looked!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

As the couple snuck away for a few alone-moments by the fountain, the guests continued their heavy dancing and fun with DJ Paul! This is just beautiful!

Gina and John at Carillon Beach

It was a sparkling ending to John & Gina’s wedding day! Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Bell! {cue the jingles!}

{CREDITS}
Venues & Planning: Carillon Beach, Ceremony: Meeting House & Reception: Village Green {Exclusive to Carillon Weddings}
Makeup & Hair: Solace Salon in Rosemary
Photography: Rae & Wesley Leytham {Rae Leytham Photography}; See Gina’s full blog HERE!
Floral/Event Design: Events by Nouveau Flowers
Catering: Townsend Catering
Cake: Confections on the Coast
Reception Music: DJ Paul of {GTS}
Minister: Rev. Harry Houseman

Avis & John {Carillon Beach Meeting House Ceremony & Inlet Beach Reception}

I chose to have my ceremony at the Meeting House at Carillon Beach.  I know what you’re thinking: “Weren’t you sick of having weddings in the Meeting House all the time?!”  I would be lying if I said that these thoughts hadn’t crossed my mind, but at the end of the day it was exactly the feel that John and I wanted on our wedding day.  It was quaint, it felt like a chapel and it comfortably fit my 70-ish closest friends and family.  As for the reception, we chose to have our reception at the Pavilion in Grande Pointe (Inlet Beach).  This offered a lovely indoor-outdoor reception that was close to Carillon and would accomodate our group if the weather was chilly in December.  Thankfully, the weather was perfect for inside dining and outside dancing!  Although it’s weird to see myself in pictures on our blog, enjoy a glimpse inside a wedding planner’s wedding!

First, I thought I’d start with an image from our engagement session with Paul & Mecheal Johnson. John’s prized possession, his boat, was the focus of our day out on the water together!

Wedding time…

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A little inside joke between me and John ;). Plus, those were some amazing shoes that the bridesmaids chose! We chose to keep the colors at the ceremony very neutral and timeless.

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The lovely Carillon Beach 🙂 Thanks for the fabulous images from Wesley Leytham and the VUE Chicks! The image on the right was even published in “Coastal Weddings Fall 2011” Magazine!

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My groom.

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My sweet dad and I as we walked through the Promenade. We chose to have a 5pm ceremony, knowing that the entire ceremony would be after sunset. This created a very romantic, candle-lit feel (but it gave my photographers a little challenge)!

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We chose to have our mothers light the first candles in the Meeting House, then they took their flames and had everyone in the congregation light their own candles. Of course, Victoria was there to help ‘fluff my dress’ at the entrance. Her husband, Perry, was right there the whole time. He had to do my traditional job of bringing the bride and bridesmaids to the ceremony location on time. Thanks, Perry! By the time my dad and I walked up to the Meeting House, the lights inside were dimmed and everyone’s candles were glowing. It was beautiful.

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I love the image of my grandma’s hands, holding her candle. I kept reminding my dad to smile! 🙂 I think he was worried about tripping and trying not to cry.

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Wesley Leytham caught this magical image of our first kiss from behind the Meeting House. I just love it!

awww 🙂

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Perfect little details. I wanted a very romantic reception with golds, blushes, creams, muaves and deep shades of coral.

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Grande Pointe was completely transformed with lavish fabric hung from the rafters that touched the floor. The crystal beading and giant plume feathers added a glamourous touch. Do any of you girls recognize those chandeliers?! Those are our signature office chandeliers. I just loved them!

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John is an investigator for the Walton County Sheriff’s office. Two of his groomsmen were fellow deputies who decided to pull a little prank on him. A damage waiver was signed (i.e. for the rollling and shaving cream on his car that we would find later that evening), but then they informed him that the “incident” took place in Bay County… Out of their jourisdiction. Ha! It made for a humorous evening.

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This is the story of our boating experiences together. Rhonda’s {Confections on the Coast} groom’s cake portrayed us very well!

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I gave free reign to Rhonda in the design of my cake. She knows that I tend to like the girly cakes, and she went from there… I thought her work with the sugar flowers was just amazing! This was also the debut of my custom-requested flavor of cake: chocolate-hazelnut! DELICIOUS! One of my other favorite parts of my wedding was our coffee/hot chocolate and dessert bar! We had every liqueur possible to add to the hot chocolate and coffee… Frangelico, Godiva, Bailey’s, Peppermint Schnapps, Disaronno and Grand Marnier. YUM! It was the perfect cool-weather treat for our guests!

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Victoria put paper lanterns with battery-candles all along the path inside Grande Pointe. It was beautiful!

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I spared you all of our silly dancing pictures, but thought you might enjoy our ‘send-off’! Some of the deputies in attendance called the on-duty deputy to handcuff and escort us out of the building. Needless to say, it was a fun ending to a perfect night! I will be forever grateful to our top-notch vendors. I can tell you that I would not have chosen anyone else to make our wedding day so memorable! xoxo

{CREDITS}
Venues & Coordination: Carillon Beach Meeting House (exclusive to Carillon Weddings)
Reception: Grande Pointe Pavilion at Inlet Beach
Photography: Genya & Wesleyann {VUE Photography}; see my wedding blogged here! Wesley Leytham {Rae Leytham Photography & ShootShed}
Engagement Session: Paul & Mecheal Johnson {Paul Johnson Photography}; see this session blogged here!
Cinematography: Joanna & Robert Banks-Morgan {Diva Productions}
Floral/Event Design: Christina Springfield of Events by Nouveau Flowers
Catering:  Townsend Catering
Cake:  Rhonda Joodi of Confections on the Coast
Reception Music: DJ Paul of GTS Entertainment
Dress: The Bridal Loft, Pensacola
Makeup: Renee Armour {Two Fishes Artistry} & Elisa Rowland {Mary Kay Consultant}

Not that you need another reason to order a photo booth… but I would just like to give a shout out to some of my favorite wedding moment “capturers” in the area! You are all so wonderful and I’m glad you could be a part of our wedding! It’s fun to see these professionals out and dressed to play! Thanks for the memories! {Paul, Mecheal, Wesleyann, Genya, Wesley, Joanna & Robert}

Chloe & Philip {September Wedding at Carillon Beach}

This light-hearted, Alabama couple chose to have a sweet, intimate wedding in the Carillon Beach Meeting House.  With the couple’s closest family and friends, the entire evening was filled with laughter and beautifully captured moments.

Chloe and Philip at Carillon Beach

I fell in love with the gorgeous colors of this bouquet! The soft, neutral palette was perfectly fitting for this classic wedding.

Chloe and Philip at Carillon Beach

We were more than pleased with the romantic and ethereal feel that was created for Chloe’s ceremony.  It could not have been more perfect for this couple. Courtney’s (Chloe’s sister) face says it all!

Chloe and Philip at Carillon Beach

Carillon Beach Meeting House

Chloe and Philip at Carillon Beach

Husband & Wife!

Chloe and Philip at Carillon Beach

Sunset pictures at the Carillon Beach walkover. What a beautiful couple!

Chloe and Philip at Carillon Beach

Neutrals were so trendy for weddings this year! We absolutely love them. The Meeting House lends itself to gorgeous neutrals and simple decor.

Chloe and Philip at Carillon Beach

The Meeting House was quickly transformed to their dining room once the guests wandered outside for the cocktail hour. Upon Chloe & Philip’s return from their sunset pictures, they danced their first dance to Train’s “Marry Me.”

Chloe and Philip at Carillon Beach

A magical ending to their night! Congrats Mr & Mrs Powell!

{CREDITS}

Venues:  Carillon Beach Meeting House, exclusive to Carillon Weddings

Photography: Genya & Wesleyann of VUE Photography; Chloe’s wedding blog

Floral/Event Design:  Christina Springfield of Events by Nouveau Flowers

Minister:  Pastor Tim Meadows of Point Washington UMC

Catering:  Donna & David Townsend of Townsend Catering

Cake:  Rhonda Joodi of Confections on the Coast