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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Wedding Wednesday: Antique-Rustic & Married in Miami . . .

This Wedding Wednesday, we bring you the lovely Kristi & Paul, straight out of Newport Beach, CA.  So what are they doing having a wedding in Miami, you ask?  Well, they originally wanted to go to Italy, but when they couldn't do it without bringing their immediate family they found the Vizcaya in Miami, a 100 year old 180 acre estate, for photos, held the ceremony at the Ancient Spanish Monastery, and an intimate lunch at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables . . . it was the closest they could get to Italy and still have all of their special people with them to share their big day!  Take a look . . .










The mother of the bride made her delicious banana cookies to welcome guests with a sweet treat on their way into the ceremony.  The cookies were placed in small paper bags stamped with the words, 'You're Sweet' and placed along with little canvas bags of a nut mix labeled 'Nuts About You'.

And to wet the whistle, old-fashioned root beer and cream soda bottles were placed alongside water, as they are Kristi & Paul's favorite treats!








From Kristi, I did not want a fresh bouquet and have to worry about it all day in the heat! Mine was already preserved for me and the preserved flowers went with the whole antique-rustic chic design that played into the day. The bouquet was a mix of wheat, pecan pods, pampas grass, feverfew + other dried flowers that still look just as “fresh” today. I added two fresh blue thistle stems to finish of the look. 



The ceremony was set up with wooden benches formed in a circle for meaning of family, unity, protection and everlasting love. The benches were covered in lace and a handmade program or fan covered every other spot. Then a wishing stone was set by each for family/friends to give well wishes back to the couple for their home.








A Few Last Words From the Bride . . .



Any advice to those planning now? Take at least 15 min, if not 30, to yourselves on the day. Reflect, re-read your vows, stop and look at what’s happening around you. It is your day, take some time to step aside and be completely alone with one another. It may be the most memorable time of the day in the end as all goes by so fast.


Everyone wouldn’t stop raving about the unique décor and the beautiful ceremony vows (both wrote them ourselves). I spent over a year designing the whole set up with my mom and Paul’s help. I’m really happy with how it all came together. As everyone flew in the week of the wedding, we were able to enjoy some relaxing time at a villa in the area with enough bedrooms to fit four families, we all enjoyed time by the pool and homemade food the days before and a relaxing brunch & pool party there the following day. This was an amazing time to spend as the wedding day still went by so fast; we were able to celebrate for four days like some cultures naturally do! The day after the wedding was our day to relax and really visit with family and on the weekend we went on deep sea fishing.


Fabulous Vendors:

photographer: Jerry Yoon Photographers // venues: first look + romantics: Vizcaya (Miami, FL) // ceremony: Spanish Monastery (North Miami Beach, FL) // reception+lunch: Biltmore Hotel (Coral Gables, FL) // wedding planner + coordinator: Karla Blanco of Stylish Events // wedding dress: Custom-made Amy Michelson “Santorini” gown // jewelry + shoes: Antique Czech Jewelry, Beyond Skin blue suede (vegan) shoes with Czech decal (added by bride), blue glass Intaglio cameo antique bracelet // hair accessories: The Soil and Sea // hair + makeup: Denise Empey // suit: Hugo Boss // florist: Jen K Floral Design (Orange, CA) // rentals + linens: La Tavola // wooden benches: Bubble Miami // catering: The Biltmore // videographer: William Roman (Miami, Florida) // transportation: Millenium Limo  // invitations: (designer) Lisa Butera-Kerr, mywedding.com for evites

So pretty, elegant, & rustic, no?  You just have to love all of those special little details . . . and the fact that all of their loved ones were there to share their special day!  Thank you to Green Wedding Shoes for bringing us this beautiful wedding and congrats to Kristi & Paul! Photobucket

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