vue photography

Amy & Gary {May Wedding at Carillon Beach}

I must say that I have really been looking forward to posting this wedding. I’m fairly certain that Amy is one of THE sweetest people I have ever met. She was literally the opposite of a “bride-zilla”, which was one of the first phrases out of her mouth while planning her wedding. “I really am not picky, I trust you guys and I do not want to be a bridezilla!” Now, if this isn’t a wedding planner’s dream bride, I don’t know what is?! As a trained dancer from FSU, her elegance and grace was apparent throughout her big day. Amy’s appreciation for classical music, as well as great dance music, really gave her guests something to enjoy! She knew immediately that she wanted to go from a full quartet for her ceremony and cocktail hour, to a great DJ who really knew how to keep the guests dancing! I know I learned a few steps as she taught us all how to “Dougie!” I hope you enjoy Amy & Gary’s wedding as much as we loved being there for it. Don’t forget to catch the fantastic trailer at the end. But first, I love starting out with a few of her adorable engagement session shots in Apalachicola, FL!…

Lady Love…

We like boots with a ‘tude on this sweet, Southern gal! You’d better hold on to this one, Gary!

Wedding Time.

Ooh La La! What gal doesn’t love dressing up in Louboutins & Vera Wang on her wedding day?! This classically beautiful bride made an easy transition from quiet & sweet, to sassy & glamorous!

Perfect little details surrounded Amy’s big day. We just loved how her Tiffany blue and soft pinks complimented each other. Amy chose to have her paper products custom designed by the incredibly talented, Dauphine Press.

What a wonderful Etsy.com find! Amy had a personalized tag made for her amazing bouquet of orchids. We love those kinds of personal touches!

Southern belles love their peonies and Amy was no exception! They are just beautiful at this time of year. Our ballerina showed off her perfectly pointed toes as she waited to walk through the Promenade. I could not stop laughing because she kept pointing out her non-existent “kankles” from getting a bit of a sunburn earlier in the week. *Don’t kill me, Amy!* Needless to say, we had lots of laughs from her silly comments before the ceremony. To compliment her bouquet, we chose to go with simple, orchid blooms for the boutonnieres.

We just love the simplicity of the Meeting House in Carillon Beach. Keep an eye out for those same, cherub arrangements as they are transferred to the reception!

So in love! 🙂 You can almost hear her giggle through the picture.

This is one of my favorite ‘new’ ways for guests to sign a guestbook! One of their precious engagement photos was turned into a custom-designed puzzle where their guests would piece together and sign a special note to the bride and groom. A clear, double-sided frame was also included so Amy and Gary could choose to have either side showing in their home – all their signatures or their photo! I know this is a cute idea that will definitely be seen again! ((I particularly liked the nod to the Dawgs! As a surprise to Gary, she even had the string quartet play “Battle Hymn of the Republic” as they recessed after their ceremony. To those fellow Georgia Fans, we all know this song as “Glory, Glory to Old Georgia”! GO DAWGS!))

Ahh, a classic first dance to Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road”.

We all got such a kick out of Amy’s dance with her father. As a nod to their family, and her last name being the oh-so-Italian, Mutarelli… Amy chose to dance to “The Godfather Waltz” straight from the movie!

Amy’s tablescape was beautifully accented with the cherub arrangements from the Meeting House. Her look was very whimsical, but romantic. Her wedding cake was also a piece of artwork in itself.

After the ceremony, we swept them away for their sunset pictures at about 7:30. Although it was a little windy, Amy looked just gorgeous!

In the springtime, we tend to keep a look out for our lucky frog who always seems to make his appearance at our events. I’m glad he made it so close to the dance floor because these guests were definitely dancers! A handful of the girls were part of the FSU dance team and they surely showed off their moves! After their seated buffet was over, the guests moved outside, under cafe lights to dance the night away. After a quick dress change so Amy could boogie down, everyone ooo’d and ahh’d at her perfect, short BCBG dress! She was a knockout!

It was another flawless night in Carillon Beach… We’re so happy for this happy couple and wish them both the absolute best!

{CREDITS}
Venues & Coordination: Carillon Weddings
Makeup: Robin Klag (site)
Photography: Genya Garrett & Wesleyann Knetzer of VUE Photography; blogged wedding
Cinematography: Diva Productions
Floral/Event Design: Christina Springfield of Events by Nouveau Flowers
Catering: Townsend Catering
Cake: Confections on the Coast
Ceremony Music: Bay Arts Quartet (WMP)
Reception Music: DJ Paul (GTS)
Invites: Dauphine Press

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…

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.

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!

My groom.

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)!

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.

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.

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

awww 🙂

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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}