Sparkly sneakers and an oceanfront spot to say “I Do”– what more do you need?! This bride walked down the aisle, er, dock, in style at her family’s Marco Island home to wed the love of her life. The pair’s chic seaside wedding in Florida turned out beautifully, but not without a few bumps along the road… With Hurricane Irma hitting just a few weeks before their big day, a few alterations and a new venue were necessary. For us onlookers, though, you’d never be able to tell! The stunning boho-chic themed nuptials are as picturesque as can be – and rain-free! In fact, the Florida sun shone almost as brightly as the bride and groom themselves.
Planner, Kelley Event Design, shares, Katie and Chris were engaged in San Francisco after Katie finished a half marathon in late 2016. Chris surprised his bride-to-be with both sets of parents and a weekend of celebration. Once back home in Charlotte, NC, the couple decided to host their friends and family at Katie’s parents’ Marco Island, FL, home. Katie had grown up visiting Marco Island and they both love boating and the ocean.
The initial venue location overlooked the Gulf of Mexico and was to be the setting for the ceremony and reception. Planning was well underway when two months from the wedding date Hurricane Irma set her sights on the Southwest Florida coast. The eye of the hurricane passed over the island and there was substantial damage to the dock and power sources at the residence. Vendors quickly rallied along with the father of the bride, and a new site, or Plan A- as it was nicknamed, fell into place. The ceremony still took place at their family home overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at sunset. The bride, in her custom Erin Grey Couture gown and Golden Goose high-tops, walked down the stairwell arm-in-arm with her father who worked tirelessly to ensure his daughter’s wedding was exactly what she wanted despite the unpredictable hurricane.
Chris waited for Katie on the newly finished dock with a stunning circular floral arch paired with a breathtaking ocean view as his backdrop. After the ceremony the bridal party hopped aboard a boat to take photos at a secluded beach while guests were ushered to the second venue at a private residence nearby.
The reception space was designed with a boho chic theme in mind. The color palette was shades of grey, white and the lightest pinks and purples. A pergola adorned with greenery and white florals greeted guests as they entered the backyard. A clear tent with market lights strung throughout hosted the band and a dance floor with a hanging floral arrangement. Modern and unique lounge furniture from Unearthed Vintage completed the look along with custom pillows and linens from The Social Spool. The bride complemented the boho chic look with her day-of paper goods and scripted invitations accented in gold foil.
The bridal party entered to their own custom songs and the bride and groom surprised guests with a choreographed first dance. At the end of the night the couple exited and rode to their hotel in the bride’s father’s refurbished first car, a yellow Oldsmobile Cutlass. This celebration was beautiful, but also full of personal and unique touches from the bride and groom.
