Stacey & Mike's Engagement Photos

Stacey and Mike are a super fun couple! Their wedding is taking place in October at the Intercontinental Hotel in Tampa. They live in Texas and Louisiana, and came into town for their engagement session. Talented photographer, Phillip Lloyd, spent the day with them poking around St. Petersburg.

He did an amazing job capturing their fun, laid back personalities!

Images courtesy of Phillip Lloyd Photography.

UNIQUE Dancing Shoes

UNIQUE brides don't want to wear traditional white heels beneath their wedding gown. They need something with a little more flair and personality!

To add just a touch, but nothing crazy to your bridal look, these Badgley Mischka Randall heels have a traditional gold color and shape, but the floral accent creates some interest.

These Stuart Weitzman Paigi Pumps are perfect for the girly girl that has some serious attitude and style!

Bling on your ears, around your neck, in your hair...why stop there? These Giuseppe Zanotti heels with their crystal accents look more like a piece of jewelry than a shoe!

These Badgley Mischka Ralph heels, are perfect for a 1920's/1930's vintage-inspired event. They will keep you dancing all night long!

For the bride with a traditional style and that wants to "wow," these Alexander McQueen red pumps are the ideal classic style, yet the red color is completely eye-catching.

Who said that flats have to be boring? These Kate Spade Naomi flats have a whimiscal and retro look. They're fun and comfy!For the offbeat bride, these Badgely Mischka Raven heels add a touch of edge to a traditional wedding gown. They showcase your wild side with the grey snakeskin accents.If black is one of your wedding colors, these Sergio Rossi heels are super simple, but have a fun circular pattern on the heel. All eyes will be on these shoes during the garter removal!

For something blue, the Badgeley Mischka Hyde heel captures the perfect combination of classic style and a modern flair.

Pick out some fun, stylish dancing shoes and have a blast!

Images courtesy of Zappos.

UNIQUE Wedding: Aly & Eric

I had to make you wait for this one, and trust me, it's more than worth the wait!

Upon meeting with Aly and Eric, they explained to me that their style was simple and they wanted an outdoor, Sunday wedding that reflects it. "Lunch on the Lawn" became the theme for their wedding. What originally came to mind was green grass, sunshine, and pops of bright colors...perfect! Aly's dress was simple, but with a few touches of glam. The beading on her gown reflected the sunlight and made her sparkle. The bridesmaid's dresses became the inspiration for the color scheme of different shades of tangerine, lime green, and white. Eric, not trying to be out done, wanted to make sure that he had a pop of color in his ensemble. An orange tie was just the ticket, and it contrasted perfectly with his grey suit. Chinese lanterns of different sizes and colors were hung in the trees to add a bit of color, and tangerine sashes wrapped each of the white garden chairs. Fun floral arrangements hung from shepherd hooks along the aisle, which lead to the white gazebo where the couple was wed. Green apples worked as double duty, by anchoring the escort cards and giving the guests a refreshing snack during Cocktail Hour. During photos, the newlyweds headed over to a local marina and got some great shots next to the blue water. In addition to the Ceremony and Cocktail Hour, the Reception also took place outside, therefore warranting the label, "Lunch on the Lawn!" Crisp white linens sat atop the green grass. The adorable centerpieces (my personal favorite element of the wedding) consisted of sliced limes, green poms, and orange Gerber daisies, and they were a big hit with the guests! By the end of the event, there was not a single one left! Tangerine napkins were accented with a green pom, and to keep the touches of green consistent, we had a slice of lime in each water glass instead of lemon. Remember, it's all about the details! :) During Cocktail Hour, unbeknownst to the guests, we transformed the Ceremony gazebo into the housing for the cupcake tower, again, a huge hit! The tower sat below a glass and floral chandelier with orange Gerber daisies and green spider mums. Instead of your typical DJ, Aly and Eric opted for a more fun, relaxed approach by having a steel drum band perform for the duration of the event.

Aly and Eric, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day together! It was such a joy getting to know you two through the process of planning your wedding. We wish you all the best for a long and happy life together!

Wedding Coordination: UNIQUE Event Design…of course!
Bartending, Catering, & Rentals: Delectables Catering
Cupcakes: Piece of Cake
Flowers: FH Weddings
Hair: Totally You
Music: Mello Vibes Entertainment
Officiate: Rev. Tom Green
Photography: Kimberly Photography
Limo: Skyline Limousine
Water Taxi: Tampa Water Taxi Co.
Venue: Davis Island Garden Club

Images courtesy of Kimberly Photography.

UNIQUE Peek!

Check back to see Aly & Eric's "Lunch on the Lawn" inspired wedding!

Image courtesy of Kimberly Photography.

Fabulous Finds: R I V I N I Bridal

I have been getting alot of inspiration from bridal fashion lately, as you can see by the numerous fashion posts!

Today, we are featuring R I V I N I Bridal. They create gowns with a soft elegance, and a modern edge. The flow and movement of each skirt makes a UNIQUE statement that any bride would want.

"The essence of simple luxury...With petal softness, crisp and creamy shades of bleached white and ivory and sweeping silhouettes, R I V I N I™ ushers in a refreshing new era of simple luxury. Cut from lush silk satins, crepes, chiffons, and organzas, the R I V I N I™ collection flows with a purity of line. Fluid silhouettes and meticulous attention to detail have long been R I V I N I™ designer Rita Vinieris’s understated signature. Vinieris infuses her Collection with a sense of light-handed charm. It’s feeling born of sublime luxury and low-key ornamentation. Hers are wedding dresses cut from a modern mould. Subtle finishing touches include soft tucks and pleats, understated beading, sheer panels of fabric, a beguiling illusion, and a variety of couture techniques and styles. Workmanship of the highest level, uncompromising quality and fit are the cornerstones to this contemporary bridal collection. Vinieris’s unerring sense of what modern brides desire has shaped a Collection that is alluring in its design, chic in its perfection, the essence of simple luxury."

Are you as inspired as I am?

Images courtesy of R I V I N I Bridal.

Pretty Purple!

Purple is no doubt a HOT color this season! Take a look at this pretty purple inspiration...

The most profound display of this trend is at an event that we were invited to attend, the Brides Florida Vendor Networking Event at T Pepin Hospitality Centre. We were WOWed by this purple paradise, aren't you?

The amazing decor and florals for this event are contributed to the following vendors -

Florals: Botanica International Design Studio

Draping & Decor: conceptBAIT

Lighting: Bay Stage Lighting

Furniture: AFR Event Furnishings & MMD Events

Linens: Linens by the Sea

And nothing would've come off without the "on point" coordination by Olivier Events.

Images courtesy of http://www.theblackporchstudio.com/, http://www.theknot.com/, http://www.projectwedding.com/, & K&K Photography.

Bar Options

Your bar can take up a significant amount of your wedding budget, but before you opt for a cash bar (YIKES!) to save money, check out these other options to quench your guests' thirst!

Beer & Wine Only

Nixing the alcohol, and having beer & wine only is a a great option. You can offer a few different beers and red & white wine, to make sure there is something for everyone.

Call Brands Only

Skip the expensive top shelf alcohol, and select call brands only. Your guests will be busy enjoying the festivities and celebrating with you and your husband, and won't miss the "name brand" stuff!

Signature Cocktails

Having one, or a few signature cocktails is another way to treat your guests. You can name the cocktails after your names, your new last name, or even something significant in your relationship. Be sure to include a menu on your bar to describe the meaning and what's in it.

Specialty Bars

There's no rules! Personalize your bar! Do you love champagne? Have a champagne bar with different kinds of champagne for your guests to taste. Is your family of Puerto Rican decent? How about a Rum bar? Are you Russian? How about a Vodka bar? Incorporate you, and your guests will appreciate it!

Close the Bar

If you do choose an open bar, it doesn't have to be open the entire four or five hours. You can close the bar for the last thirty minutes or hour at the end of the wedding, to allow your guests to sober up. You can even close it for thirty minutes at the beginning of the Reception, since you wouldn't want your guests to miss the announcements, first dance, parent dances, toasts, etc. Be sure to note this on the bar, so your guests are aware.

Dry Bar

If you are hosting a morning or afternoon wedding, choose to have a dry wedding. Guests are much less likely to want to drink so early in the day.

Cash bars are definitely controversial and are sometimes frowned upon. Choose a creative way to accommodate your guests and they're sure to thank you. Cheers!

Images courtesy of http://www.equippers.com/, http://www.big-wedding-tiny-budget.com/, http://www.luxurylaunches.com/, and http://www.rs2guru.com/.