One of our absolute favoritest things: getting the full circle of a couple from engagement sesh to wedding! Kayla and Blake are no exception, and I just adore how Kat Braman documented their laid-back, nature-loving, so-in-love personalities from start to finish. Our own Desiree Dawn Events coordinated their beautiful outdoor wedding at Jonathan Dickinson State Park filled with DIY handmade details, lots of love and lasting memories.
Kayla and Blake (remember them from their amaze engagement session last year ?) had known each other for 10 years and had dated for 7 before, as Kayla says, "making it official. We are literally each other's better half, best friend, and voice of reason. We love to spend time together doing just about anything."
Tops on their list of just about anything is being outdoors - boating, hanging with their pups, and simply enjoying Floridian nature. Driving past Jonathan Dickinson State Park on the way back from looking at a wedding venue, Blake turned to Kayla and said, "Why not there?" Though she thought he was crazy at first, after they looked into it, she was hooked. The choice of venue fit right into their overall plan: create a relaxed and fun atmosphere for their friends and family that didn't break the bank.
The ceremony was held at a small amphitheater within the park just around sunset. Afterwards, guests took a short hike to the reception under a rustic pavilion.
Says Kayla, "Our ceremony and personal vows to each other is something we will always remember. Lots of tears and laughs!"
From the bride: "It was important to us to create a day that reflected us and to celebrate our love with our family and friends. A lot of love, sweat, and tears went into making all the little details. Almost everything was handmade or collected. A huge thanks to our grandmothers and mothers for collecting all of the vintage glassware and to my dad who literally hand built EVERYTHING! The bar, the centerpieces, the donut holders, and finding the spool tables - and never complained once or second guessed any of my crazy ideas - he's the best! A lot of our memories go back to the planning process because it was such a group effort to make it all happen. A lot of time and love and help from friends and family created lasting memories."
“It was the exact outdoor, relaxed, non-weddingy feel that we wanted.”
The reception had the same laid-back vibe, with freshly shucked oysters, vintage/collected glassware, s'mores by the campfire, and treats from Jupiter Donut Factory. Kayla grew all of the succulents for the centerpieces, her Dad's construction projects took center stage, and everyone danced, relaxed, and had a great time building those memories.
Kat and Desiree are awesome! Kat's work speaks for itself! I love the candid style of her work and how we never felt "posed" or had to stop being in the moment for a picture, it was so relaxing. It was so comforting having Des and her team. So much so, that there were apparently a few technical near-catastrophes that I had no clue about until after the fact.
One of our personal faves was my crazy best friend and maid of honor, Allyson's speech/song. She sang/rapped to the tune of "I can tell that we are gonna be friends" by The White Stripes. It was literally a tribute to our childhood friendship and so many crazy/funny memories that we and many friends at the wedding all shared together. Everyone laughed and cried and it was AMAZING! Something we will truly never forget.
Congratulations, guys!
