The Venue Hunt

The Winter Park Farmers Market can be summed up in one word: charming. There is something so alluring about this venue.... but in all my years as an event planner I regretfully never had a wedding here. I regularly attend the Saturday morning Farmers Market (waiting for my spot as a vendor on the 2 year waiting list) and my mind is always thinking of hanging Chinese umbrellas from the exposed beams, and opening up the "barn" doors when the dancefloor heats up, having chunky rustic paper place cards.... ya know, normal stuff that everyone thinks when they walk through those doors :) In any case, when Nicole saw The Farmers Market for the first time, I could see her mind spark with the same flutter of ideas. Rustic and funky. Negatives: the chairs. Nicole really wants the Chiavaris (who wouldn't they are so cool), and I told her that since she would have to rent chairs if she chose this venue, she already be a step closer to her chairs (sneaky, I know).


The Lake Mary Events Center is a stunning venue, very classy.... Nicole needs something with a little more funk, less grande and a little more personality. Crystal, Nicole and I all agreed that it was absolutely beautiful, but not "her" (well, not "them".... I know, I have to include the groom more)




This is actually the first venue we checked out. It was the location I wanted to have my wedding, but once the guest list swelled past 140... the dream was over. Someone was inside, and let us check out the place, which just happened to be completely set up for a wedding. There is a large stage that calls out for a big band, and the gorgeous wood floors some dancers. The view in the picture above is where the cocktail reception could take place. The perfectly manicured lawns are definitely a selling point for bringing guests outside.



Casa Feliz was gorgeous, and the staff sached us around the beautiful mansion, helping her envision the big day. The prices were very reasonable, and Nicole walked out of the house completely smitten. Then reality sunk in that her guest list, which is currently holding firm at 120 could squeeze into the venue, but the one thing she needed to complete her vision was very cooperative weather. We also remembered that Ian's one request was to have a brass band, and the venue simply isn't set up for brass. Acoustic guitars, definitely... trumpets, no.

Flower Girls

The flower girls will be the CUTEST in the world! From the left, McKenzie a lively 4 year old, middle is Madison, 5, and as sweet as they come and the right is Amelia who has so much personality for a 1 1/2 year old.... and is a fantastic dancer! Amelia is the little light of my life, and is responsible for my smile lines (yes, she makes me smile a lot... but she also gives me wrinkles). When Madison and Amelia first met, Amelia put her hand out (as to invite Madison to hold it), and they were pretty much inseparable the rest of the day. All three played with whatever was in this white case, they made beautiful music on the piano, they chased each other around the house (as I nervously watched them dart between Ian's parents antiques). These three little girls were instant friends, and will have so much fun together on the big day!

The Engagement

When Ian decided to take Nicole sailing for the 4th of July, myself and the rest of Nicole's posse were suspicious something wonderful was about to happen!
He sneakily transported the ring in her purse on their way to the boat..... and then transferred the ring to the sac with the champagne, sweetly offered her champagne which she sweetly declined. Realizing he needed her to say "yes" to the champagne for things to go according to plan, he offered again, she declined again. Although the very romantic setting might have proven otherwise, Nicole did not expect a proposal because she had already ransacked Ian's belongings for a ring to no avail (it was in her purse). He offered her champagne AGAIN, and finally she said "yes" and then soon saw the mood transform as Ian pulled out the box, presented the ring and said that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and asked if she would marry him .... later confessing he wanted to get the ring on her finger as quickly as humanly possible to not have it go overboard. She of course said "yes" and thus begins a wonderful journey of an engagement.

The Announcement!

I have known Nicole since the first day of first grade (21 years to be exact), and we have been inseparable since! Weddings are my life's passion, and last night when Nicole called me to say that her wonderful boyfriend proposed...... I was ecstatic that my BF is a BRIDE!!!