Alright everyone, today’s real wedding is a doozy! I have TONS of gorgeous photos for you from my friend Kristen Weaver, and they are just FULL of inspiration for an eclectic, chic wedding! And of course I have some excellent insight for you straight from the adorable bride Colleen!

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

My mom, my sister and my Aunt Kathy. My Aunt Kathy was pretty much my wedding fairy godmother. She found the venue, arranged and hosted our spectacular rehearsal dinner, made all of our welcome bags, found our “reverend”, gifted me tons of beautiful outfits for my honeymoon from the gorgeous local boutique she manages, made and supplied most of our wedding decor and somehow she also had time to listen to my every crazy concern or worry! My sister and my mom were by my side for every single detail and I couldn’t have made it down the aisle without them. They all were such a huge source of information, support and patience! (I was not a very laid back bride) I cannot ever thank them enough!!

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

Budget and quality were the two most important factors in who I would choose for vendors. Since our wedding was a destination wedding in Florida, almost all of my research was done online. Feedback from other brides on sites like WeddingWire were critical in helping me make most of my vendor decisions. 

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

Our ceremony felt magical to me! The setting was perfect and everyone I loved was there! My husband and I wrote the ceremony ourselves, chose all of the music that felt special to us, and a family friend graciously accepted our offer to be our “reverend”. The whole thing was all so intimate and unique to who we are. The whole experience was extremely powerful and I will never forget a single moment!

Did any of your vendors do anything special for you before, on, or after your wedding day that you would like to share?

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Don’t sweat the small stuff! Smile, take a deep breath and try to really be present in every moment of the planning process and the wedding day! All of these experiences are memories you will cherish forever so try to enjoy the process and not get too caught up in the little details. That being said, if there is something that is really important to your and your future husband don’t let other people’s opinions derail your vision. Inevitably your wedding day WILL have a hiccup (or two), don’t let it ruin what the day is really about! Just focus on the life you are about to create with the man waiting for you at the end of the aisle! 

Aw, I love all her advice and insight- thank you for sharing your wedding day with us Colleen!

I feel like I actually was at the wedding, don’t you? I just LOVE being able to feel and see the emotion through the photos. And of course it’s so nice to see such an adorable couple so in love! Now let’s talk details- I’m in love with those bouquets and the centerpieces. And how about the heart and arrow design motif used for the table numbers and menus? So cute! Of course I have a big thank you to Kristen Weaver for sharing this wedding with us! Enjoy, and don’t forget to let me know what your favorite part of this wedding is in the comments! :)

Vendors who made it all happen…