This Couple Planned Their Elegant Wedding on a Key West Beach in Just Four Months

A Bespoke Invitation Suite

Nika Smernoff, owner of Calligraphette Co., designed the couple's wedding invitations and other stationery elements. "We kept the colors very neutral and included shades you would find in the perfect sunset," says Beth. The lettering was done in gold and the envelope liner featured a delicate watercolor motif.

A Sentimental Bridal Hairstyle

Beth's elegant updo featured a complex series of twists, plus one very special element. "I love sentimental items and ordered lily of the valley to put in my hair for the ceremony," she says. "My mom used them in her wedding bouquet and they are her favorite flowers."

Perfect for the Beach

The bride knew she wanted a soft and romantic wedding dress for her nuptials on the beach, but the couple's four-month engagement would require a rush-order to get a gown in time. "I decided to go an alternative route and custom design my dress on Etsy," Beth says. Three weeks before the wedding, she received the dress, but it didn't fit. "I decided to look at a vintage shop I love called Gossamer, and found a beautiful dress. It ended up being the dress I had in mind, and perfect for our wedding."

A Touch of Blush

Blush sandals with satin bows and crystal detailing served as Beth's footwear for the ceremony and the photo session that preceded it.

With Dad

Beth's father and her dad enjoyed a private moment before the ceremony.

A Delicate Bridal Bouquet

The bride used a colorful combination of butterfly ranunculus, sweet peas, hellebores, and garden roses in her bouquet. Jasmine vine and tuberose, known for their lovely scents, rounded out the arrangement.

A Gorgeous Maid of Honor

With her sister as her only attendant, Beth wanted to find something special for her to wear. "I also wanted to make sure it was something she would want to wear again," she explains. The pair settled on a lovely beaded gown in a smoky shade of blue.

Dapper Groom

John donned an ivory dinner coat, black bow tie, and black tuxedo pants for the big day. Gold-plated onyx cufflinks and studs completed his ensemble.

A Meaningful Boutonnière

The groom's boutonnière, made from of lilies of the valley, was tied with blush ribbon and matched the blooms in Beth's hair.

A Delightful First Look

Although John was initially hesitant about having a first look, the moment was ultimately memorable because the couple couldn't wait to lay eyes on each other. "We saw each other the night before at the rehearsal dinner, and it was so tough for me not to call John on the morning of the wedding!" says Beth.

Members of the Wedding

Two sharply dressed young men helped out at the ceremony by passing out programs.

A Ceremony on the Beach

Although the bride's background is in floral design, the couple opted to limit their backdrop to the ocean. "For the ceremony, I wanted to keep things very simple and just focus on the water," says Beth. A live musician played "Canon in D" on an acoustic guitar as the bride made her way down the aisle of sand; the ceremony itself was filled with details about Beth and John. "[Our officiant] had asked us a lot about who we were as a couple ahead of time, and incorporated that into the ceremony," Beth says. As a surprise, the officiant gifted the pair with a starfish, and after the vow exchange, the couple walked back up the aisle to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder.

An Elegant Beach Reception

Guests were ushered from a short cocktail hour to a sunset reception on the sand, where palm trees shaded tables dressed in creamy linens. Chiavari chairs of dark wood encircled round tables and ran the length of one long head table.

Unique Seating Cards

The pair's calligrapher inscribed the names of guests along with their table numbers on delicate mussel shells, a perfect match for the beachy wedding theme.

Sweetest Centerpieces

As a former florist, Beth knew she wanted to design her own arrangements for the wedding. "Flowers were really important to me," she confirms. In addition to crisp whites, soft shades of pink, and fresh berries, she incorporated orange tones in the arrangements in memory of her grandfather. "This was just a small detail, but something I knew would be special to me and my grandmother when we reflected on the wedding," she says.

White cards with blush lettering designated numbers to each table.

Along the Tabletops

In keeping with the bride's vision, the table décor was simple and organic. Each place setting featured a lovely menu card with a custom logo, as well as a very special touch. "A few years ago, I helped my friend hand-dye table linens and napkins for her wedding," Beth shares. "She kept them and we were able to reuse them for our own."

A Memorable First Dance

The couple's first dance as husband and wife was to the song "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley (sung by the band). "We both love the classics, and this song really captured us and our relationship," says Beth. "When we knew, we knew—and there wasn't anything stopping us." Following the dance, Beth's 12-year-old cousin surprised the pair by singing "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran. "There were not many dry eyes to be found as we danced to that," Beth admits.

A Sparkling Wedding Cake

Although the couple served key lime pie for dessert, they had a small "funfetti" cake to cut into. "We got married on our golden retriever's third birthday, so it was our small way of celebrating with her in spirit." Sparklers lit the top of the cake, adding light to the love felt all around.

Sources

Photography, Rachel May Photography

Location and Catering, Casa Marina Resort

Day-of wedding coordination, Destination Wedding Studio

Stationery and Calligraphy, Nika Smernoff for Calligraphette Co.

Music, Bay Kings Band

Bride's dress, Gossamer

Bride's hair and makeup, Carolyn Jones Makeup