Valerie and Ryan’s Palm Beach wedding planned by Simply Couture Weddings, is filled with bright florals, grandiose architecture and style at every turn. The bride’s citrus-hued bouquet by Port + Palm Co. is a show-stopper and we can’t get enough of the groom’s rad, white dinner jacket. Lucky for us, Shea Christine Photography was on hand at the Flagler Museum to capture all the details in this palm-tree lined affair.
What made the wedding special and unique?
I wanted to do something different from a sand ceremony or unity candle so I found a Celtic Handfasting tradition. My husband and I literally “tied the knot” and it was meaningful because we both have a Celtic background. We also lived in Miami for 2 1/2 years and I have Cuban heritage so I wanted to incorporate an “Hora Loca” into our reception to bring the party! We got foam light sticks, glow sticks, and party beads and our planner passed them out towards the end of the night to keep the party going!
Tell us about the gown and where/how you found it!
The gown is from Spanish designer Pronovias (another nod to my heritage.) I knew the elements I wanted in a dress – lace, off the shoulder with sleeves, defined waist, back detail – and I spent hours looking in magazines and on websites for the perfect one. I tried on over 50 dresses! But when I saw that dress on a website one night I knew it was the one. I had to hunt for a salon that carried it because it was part of the 2017 collection which was just being released, but I finally found it at Couture Bridal in Miami Beach. When I tried it on, I pictured myself standing next to my husband and I couldn’t help but cry – that was it!
What were some touches added to make the wedding personal?
We’re big Disney fans so I definitely wanted to incorporate that in a subtle way – we got a Disney-themed cake topper and had some Disney props in the photobooth. Also I’m a huge Lilly Pulitzer fan and with the events being held in Palm Beach, it wasn’t hard to work that into the wedding theme. We had Lilly print patio furniture and menus at the rehearsal dinner, and our wedding florals were Lilly’s jungle inspired.
What was the most memorable part of the day?
For me – taking portraits after the first look. He had seen me in my dress so the emotion and the nerves had passed. I felt I could relax and have fun. It was all about us and I felt so special and beautiful but we didn’t have a hundred pairs of eyes staring at us yet. For him – just before she walked down the aisle. Even though we did a first look, seeing her walk down the aisle toward me was what I had been waiting for all day. It was emotional when they opened the doors to the pavilion and I saw her again with her dad.
Tell us how you met and became engaged.
We both work in retail and met working at J.Crew. Fast forward 5 years, Ryan had always wanted the engagement to be a surprise. So he enlisted the help of his mom to get the ring from a jewelry store in his home town and picked the last proposal spot I would ever guess. While on vacation with his family that summer at his favorite lake, he waited until our last night by the campfire when we were making s’mores. He refused to toast my marshmallow for me, which I thought was strange (because he didn’t want the ring to fall out of his pocket in the dark.) Everyone had been waiting for him to ask the whole trip and I had no idea! Finally his parents were going to bed when he asked them to take a picture of the two of us. That was when he got down on one knee and said he couldn’t live without me and asked me to marry him! How could a girl say no to that??
Planning: Simply Couture Weddings // Photo: Shea Christine Photography // Floral: Port + Palm Co. // Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas // Venue: Flagler Museum // Bridal Gown Designer: Pronovias // Bridal Salon: Couture Bridal // Cake: Earth and Sugar // DJ/Photobooth: Vision DJs // Caterer: Chez Gourmet // Hair/Makeup: Emmy Sinanan // Transportation: Millenium Limo // Tux Rental: The Tux Shop