Photo: Michelle Scott Photography

Brides all over the world know that the key to getting guests up and dancing at a wedding is fun, catchy tunes. Luckily, Miami brides have a variety of hits to choose from. These fun, beachy melodies are the perfect Miami-themed songs to make sure every guest at the wedding is having a wonderful time. From nostalgic fun beats like “Miami” by Will Smith to classic songs like “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin, the dance floor will be the place to be if you add any of these to your playlist.

“Miami” by Will Smith
Smith’s 1997 single off of Big Willie Style brought us an infectious dance beat and a celebration of Miami’s rich diversity. “Miami” won the MTV Video Music Award for “Best Male Video” in 1999. Play this popular hit at your wedding for a little nostalgia with girlfriends as you reminisce about your TRL years.

“Miami” by the Counting Crows
Another throwback, “Miami” by the Counting Crows, is a great low-key, laid-back song to play at cocktail or dinner hour as guests are sipping their drinks, eating, and mingling.

“Move Shake Drop” by Pitbull featuring Flo Rida
The ultimate merge of Florida rappers, this one should be played late in the night as it has quite the club feel. Listen to it once — and you’ll be dancing in your seat. But let’s be serious — any song by Pitbull is pretty fitting for a wedding in the 305.

“Miami” by Bob Seger
Previously heard on an episode of Miami Vice, this song celebrates the hope and optimism many have when they move to this vibrant city. A great pick for holding your glass high and toasting to the newlyweds post-speech.

“Only in Miami” by Bette Midler
This song is sure to please parents and grandparents alike. The tropical feel of the song has a true Floridian vibe, and the song — which tells the story of a girl who longs to be back in her native Cuba — was also previously featured on Miami Vice.

See More: Capture Everyone’s Killer Dance Floor Moves with the Help of These Miami Wedding Videographers

“Kokomo” by The Beach Boys
The quintessential beach song, this one is sure to invoke memories among every wedding guest over five. The 1988 song from their album Still Cruisin’ is one to be remember, that’s for sure.

“Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin
An ideal song to slow dance to, Darin’s single was released in 1959 — just as swing style was fading. Little ones may remember the song from Disney’s Finding Nemo, but after listening to the song, people of all ages will be excited to be in a city so close to the ocean.

“Under the Boardwalk” by The Drifters
If your wedding guest list has a lot of native Floridians, this needs to be on your must-play list. Essential for a beach wedding, this popular summer song by will get everyone in a mellow vibe pre-ceremony.

Need someone to spin these Miami-themed tunes? Click here to see Florida’s best wedding DJ’s

Photo: Getty Images

Some brides-to-be battle pre-wedding stress and jitters through working out. For others, it’s a full-on spa day devoted to relaxation inside and out. While the ideal scenario would include endless green juice and acai bowls with yoga on the beach in Bali, you can snag the next best thing to inspire this same trance-like state. These five holistic forms of healing are just what the doctor ordered, both for brides with New Age leanings, as well as ones who would rather crystals be the kind she wears on her fingers in diamond form.

For your body
The first South American-inspired spa in Miami, Tierra Santa Spa at the new Faena Hotel, weaves ancient healing techniques into treatments that start with purifying scrubs and move into healing clays and detoxifying hammam sessions. Ingredients are sourced straight from the Amazon and incorporated into oils for tension-relieving treatments. Try the Tree of Life Vibrations, which works with sound, Brazilian Rose stones and oils massaged into tension points starting from the spine and moving into the body’s “tree of life,” from the “roots” on the lower back to the “branches” in the neck and upper shoulders.

For your head and neck
Poultice treatments have a long history in the spa world, starting in the 14th century in Thailand to relieve soldiers’ muscle pains post-battle. Now these warm bags of herbs are used in modern-day massages in a medicinal way, like with NYC’s Haven Spa’s head and neck recovery treatment, designed to relieve tension from the tip of your head down your back, neck and shoulders so you’ll be standing tall (and pain-free) for the Big Day.

For your face
Just stepping in to the soothing steam room and Turkish hamam at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach is enough to feel stress slipping away. There is a reason why yoga superstar Tara Stiles holds her retreats at this spa sanctuary, after all. Get your skin instantly glowing with the help of the Balancing Crystal Facial. Ask for Maria (she’s legendary there!) who’ll spend the next hour fine-tuning your facial features with the help of a gemstone exfoliation and crystal mask, hydrating in all the right places leaving you fresh and photo-ready for wedding day pics (a little energy healing doesn’t hurt, either!).

For your mind
Speaking of Tara Stiles, if you want to take part in one of her practices but can’t make it out to a far-flung retreat, go just far enough without actually leaving U.S. soil at W Retreat and Spa on Vieques Island. This little piece of Puerto Rican paradise is idyllic for a pre-wedding getaway, whether it’s solo or with girlfriends. Guests get access to complimentary daily Strala Yoga classes that were designed by Stiles herself. In between yoga sessions, continue the theme of utter relaxation out on the terrace of your own little Tropical Oasis room, surrounded by gardens.

For your mood
Mind is one thing, but mood is another. Unwind and get into the pre-wedding mindset with a session inside Himalayan Salt Walls at Acqualina Spa by ESPA. The new glowing pink walls span the 20,000-square-foot Relaxation Lounge, filled with 84 trace minerals that are said to hum happily with human cells. These good vibrations unlock an ancient wisdom within that’s said to provide inner peace, stress relief and a boost in positive energy that will hopefully last from this moment until the one on the aisle.

See More: How to Eat & Drink Your Way to Glowing Wedding-Day Skin

Photo: Getty Images

In this day and age, sharing the details of your wedding on social media is almost a given. Even with unplugged weddings, most couples will share a post or two in the days surrounding their wedding, from a Facebook status about how excited they are to an Instagram post featuring a favorite pic snagged from a guest. And of course, so much wedding planning is done online these days, from blogs and wedding websites to Pinterest. All that gorgeous inspiration is available because planners and photographers (and brides and grooms!) share images of their work with blogs and bridal magazines. But what happens if your photographer really wants to have your wedding published, but you’d rather keep it private? Here’s what you should do.

In a perfect world (and with a reputable photographer), you will be asked to sign a model release as permission for them to use your wedding images. This applies to their website and social media pages, as well as serving as permission to submit images of your likeness to any blogs or magazines. Without a signed model release, your photographer doesn’t legally have the right to distribute your images — which means publications don’t have the right to feature them.

Discussions about publication often begin before the wedding even takes place, with your photographer including the model release with the other paperwork you’ll be signing so that you can look it all over at once instead of piecemeal over the course of months. If there is a model release included in your photographer’s contract, or a clause granting them the right to distribute images of your likeness, now is the time to discuss and negotiate. Maybe you’re okay with a few pictures on their Facebook or Instagram feed, and a small gallery on their website, but don’t want the images on a blog or in a magazine. Make sure the release is amended to reflect those specifics. If you really don’t want any images shared AT ALL, you have every right to not sign the release or to ask that the clause be removed from the contract entirely, replaced with a statement that no images shall be shared or distributed.

Didn’t get a model release, or see a related clause in the contract? Speak up. A reputable photographer will know that your privacy and right to the images trumps their desire to be published, so if you specify that you don’t want the images shared (even if it isn’t in the contract), they’re obliged to follow your lead.

See More: 6 Wedding Photos Couples Always Forget to Take… But Shouldn’t!

While keeping your images private is completely up to you, do consider the value the pictures of your wedding holds for your vendors. Even if they aren’t featured in a magazine, examples of recent, beautiful work and happy clients as part of their portfolio will do wonders for their business. Consider allowing them to use pictures of décor with no people on their social media pages, and a select few other photos from your wedding on their blog or website. You can also request to have approval of the images that end up on their website before the pictures go live, so you can have a final once-over.

Of course, if privacy is important to the two of you, saying you don’t want any pictures anywhere is completely acceptable — and completely legal. Make your wishes known clearly, and know that if you didn’t sign any sort of release regarding the pictures, you do have recourse.

Looking for some ultra-romantic wedding inspiration? Then look no further than our real weddings video channel, packed with tons beautiful celebrations and countless ideas to steal for your own big day. Each week we take a deeper look at one of our favorite new love stories, and today’s inspiration comes courtesy of Evelyn and Tom’s flower-filled party in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Crown Alley Films joined this twosome at the Urban Garden at the Ritz-Carlton Charlotte and documented every dreamy moment of this nature-inspired celebration. With a venue this spectacular, it’s easy to see why Evelyn and Tom wanted to pack their day with fresh blooms. The glass-roofed space was the perfect space to say “I do,” especially once the couple brought in a flowering wall as their ceremony backdrop and lined the aisle with tons of trees and petals.

See More: 32 Ideas for a Neutral Wedding Color Palette

The couple put a special emphasis on their personal flowers, too. The bride’s oversized bouquet was made up of tons of bright blooms, including garden roses, lisianthus, dahlias, spray roses, and greenery. Her groom’s boutonniere was equally as statement making, made up of a purple roses and fresh eucalyptus sprigs. Even the flower girls had some spectacular blooms: They donned white flower crowns as they tossed petals down the aisle.

They didn’t forget to fill the reception with flowers either. Tall trees transformed a ballroom into an indoor garden while tons of low centerpieces decorated long and round tables. They even repurposed that gorgeous flower wall for the party, which made for the perfect cake-cutting backdrop. Now that’s what we call making an impact.

Photo: Amy Galon Photography

If you’re eager to get your guest list down to a reasonable and affordable number, there are a few techniques you can use to do this quickly — sans drama. To help you get started, here are eight people you can easily cross off your wedding guest list and why they should not be invited to your big celebration in the first place.

1. MIA Family Members
If you haven’t spoken to some of your relatives in years, don’t feel obligated to invite them to your wedding. Remember, your wedding is a celebration for you and the person you’re marrying — and your immediate family; it’s not a family reunion. Don’t feel required to extend an invite to everyone in your family tree.

2. Friends That You Haven’t Heard From in Years
If you’re hoping to rectify some of your friendships with people that you have grown apart from or no longer speak to frequently, you may have a desire to invite them to your wedding to make this happen. But your wedding will be a day and night that you are incredibly busy and have many guests to say hello to and talk to. Your wedding is not the best place to fix friendships.

3. Work Friends
Just because you share a cubicle area with a person at work or you eat lunch with them on occasion doesn’t mean they have to make your guest list — especially if you’re keeping your wedding small. Instead, plan a work happy hour to celebrate.

4. Wedding Invites from Long Ago
If you have anyone on your guest list that you are inviting just because they invited you to their wedding years ago, do yourself a favor and cross them off. Unless they are still good friends of yours, there is no obligation to invite them to your celebration.

5. Neighbors
They may live next to you, but your close proximity doesn’t equal you buying them dinner on your big day. Unless you’re super friendly with them on the regular, don’t feel obligated. If you feel like it may get awkward not to invite them or you feel you need to acknowledge the elephant in the room in passing, just inform them that you wanted to keep the celebration small.

6. Friends With a Track Record
If you have a friend that is infamous as an unruly wedding guest — or is always getting kicked out of bars and clubs, you may want to consider cutting them from your list. If they’re a non-negotiable on the invite list, make sure to have a discussion with them pre-wedding for some ground rules (or just hire extra security who can swoop in if assistance is needed).

7. Kids of Family and Friends
A quick way to minimize your guest list is to make your wedding adults-only. You’ll have to break the news gently to the moms and dads in your crew, but if anything, they may look to your wedding as a time when they can kick up their heels and enjoy a kid-free night.

8. Plus Ones You’ve Never Met
You don’t have to give any of your guests a plus one who aren’t in a relationship. And if they are — and you’ve never met the person — you shouldn’t feel obligated, unless, of course, it’s your BFF’s boyfriend who lives across the country and logistics are the only reason for the lack of meeting.

See More: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Wedding Guest List Under 150 People

Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

Photo: Getty Images

Hollywood power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have been serving up serious #RelationshipGoals ever since they tied the knot back in 1997. The dynamic duo is living proof that love can last in Hollywood with over 18 years of marriage under their collective belt. So who wouldn’t want these two standing by their side as they said their I do’s? We’d recruit ’em as bridesmaid and groomsman in a heartbeat! And apparently so did Pinkett Smith’s own mother, who recently tied the knot with her sweetheart, with her daughter and son-in-law right at her side.

According to E! News, Adrienne Banfield-Jones wed her beau in an intimate ceremony attended by her son-in-law Will Smith and daughter Jada Pinkett Smith. The venue featured a romantic ceremony arch adorned with gauzy orange fabric and flourish of fresh blooms. The bride donned a beautiful Berta wedding dress, a photo of which the designer posted to their official Instagram page. The gorgeous gown featured intricate beading and an illusion neckline, but it wasn’t the only white frock in the room that day. The bride’s daughter committed what normally would be considered a major wedding faux-pas by wearing a white gown to her mother’s nupitals!

Okay, while we’re totally certain Pinkett Smith got her mom’s blessing to don her bridal white dress this is normally such a nuptial no-no, it still made us stop in our tracks. But there’s no denying that Pinkett Smith looked totally stunning in her minimalist frock. And meanwhile, the guys didn’t look half bad either, with Smith wearing a sleek gray suit and Banfield-Jones’ new hubby donning a beige suit accessorized with an orange tie and boutonniere.

Again, can we have this too-cool duo in our bridal party? Pinkett Smith can even wear an honest-to-goodness wedding dress if she wants! We’ll be waiting on that RSVP, guys…

Jada Pinkett's mother Adrienne Banfield-Jones looking stunning in #BERTA on her wedding day ?????? #jadapinkettsmith #willsmith #Bertabride

A photo posted by BERTA (@bertabridal) on Sep 1, 2016 at 2:24pm PDT

See More: Memorable Vows from the Best TV and Movie Weddings

Photo: Getty Images

Looking for some, ahem, interestingly-shaped straws or necklaces to embarrass your bride-to-be bestie? On the hunt for the perfect pink tiara and sash to make sure your engaged BFF stands out from the bar crowd? No need to fret — there are a ton of retailers in the Garden State where Jersey girls can stock up on all the naughty dice and fuzzy handcuffs for the big weekend before the big day.

Party Box
A massive party supply outlet store, Party Box has nearly every product you could ever dream up for any bash. The stores shelves are packed to the gills with everything needed for the basics of entertaining (Need straws, cups, party beads and paper goods in a very specific shade of teal? Party Box has you covered.) What’s more, the retailer does custom printing jobs for signage, and delivers dozens of balloons to anywhere in northern New Jersey, ensuring that any locale for your GNO will be decked out.

Romantic Depot
Whether you’re on the hunt for a bride-to-be garter belt, or a phallic-shaped cake pan (yes, really) Romantic Depot is an easy stop when you want your party to be a bit more Rated R than PG-13. Though the adult party store, which has three locations in New Jersey, specializes in more grown-up fare like vibrators and sex toys, the company also has glow sticks, shot glass necklaces and bachelorette party “caution” tape for your fête. Grab a blow up hunk, a pack of pecker whistles and some inappropriately shaped candy for gift bags, and while you’re at it, pick up something for yourself. (We won’t tell — and you have to deal with the stress of being a bridesmaid somehow, girl.)

See More: Need a Limo to Get You to the Party Spot? These Are New Jersey’s Top Transportation Companies

Fantasy Gifts NJ
Fantasy Gifts is an excellent place to shop if you’re looking for more than just the classic bachelorette party staples — though the store has those, too. There are only so many places where you can get a penis-shaped piñata — and Fantasy Gifts is one of them. (And really, there are only so many times when buying one is acceptable.) If you’re looking for games that are slightly more Instagram-friendly, at the company’s two New Jersey locations, you can also find a bachelorette party charades kit, complete with a sand timer and dares to get the party started.

My Pure Pleasure
This isn’t your mama’s Tupperware party. My Pure Pleasure allows you to host a “pleasure party” right in your home, where a company representative will walk you through any questions you may have about the countless number of vibes and other sex toys the company sells. Work with your consultant before the bachelorette bash to buy all the name tags, sashes and gift sets you need to make sure your engaged friend is tickled pink at her party, or scratch the bar brawl and just have an in-house bash where the entire guest list can shop for exactly what they want instead!

For slightly more grandma-approved favors for your Garden State “I do’s,” check out the local vendors on our New Jersey Favors page

Photo: Ryan Flynn Photography

While you may not be capable of sewing your own wedding dress, there are a bunch of smaller projects that you can enjoy doing yourself like arranging your own centerpieces. We chatted with Meghann Ingram, a wedding guru at The Bouqs Company — the only flower co. that delivers stems straight from the farm to your door — to get some tips for tackling DIY wedding centerpieces.

1. Pick the Robust Stuff
Not all flowers have the gusto to work well as centerpieces for hours on end. Hydrangeas and roses are sturdy and both have a full shape, so they’re you’re best bets, Ingram says. Varieties with relatively weaker stems just won’t cut it (think tulips and ranunculus) because they can break more easily. It’s also smart to stay away from tall line flowers because striking a balanced look in the vase can be tricky. So avoid delphiniums and gladiolas.

2. Save Cash by Being Casual
Formal or modern centerpieces tend to be fuller arrangements with tight, compact buds. This means you have to use a lot of stems to get the effect of abundance. So a great way to make more cost-effective centerpieces is going with looser, more informal composition, Ingram recommends. Use just two or three different varieties and be open to using whatever flowers are in season. You’ll save money and hopefully sidestep the stress of being so focused on just one flower. And since they’re so delicate and perishable anyway, you need to be prepared for last-minute substitutions.

3. Condition the Flowers
When buying flowers in bulk, Ingram suggests conditioning the flowers. Give a 1-2 inch fresh cut to every stem. Be sure to remove thorns or leaves before they touch the water because they will poison the water if left in. And then take away any guard petals on roses.

4. Get Your Tools in Order
Before jumping in to work, buy all the necessary floral tools in advance. Ingram says you’ll need foliage/thorn strippers, shears, flower food, buckets, floral tape, decorative ribbon and a safe, cool space to store everything.

See More: What Your Wedding Flowers Really Mean

5. Build in Time
It will probably take only a few minutes to assemble a single centerpiece, but multiply that by however many tables you have and then add all the legwork behind researching, ordering and then prepping the flowers. It can add up. Build that time into your wedding week schedule, and then allow for extra time in case there are any unforeseen delays or problems.

6. Start with a Squat Vase
You’ll want to buy some 5 x 5 or 5 x 4 bubble or square vases. Then, create a small grid (or hashtag!) using clear tape to anchor the flowers and keep everything in place.

7. Begin Filling with the Big Stuff
Put the largest flowers in first, and then work your way down to the smallest. It’s a good idea to add the smaller buds in groups of three because it’s pleasing to the eye. As you’re adding flowers, turn the vase around to see it from all different angles. It’ll help the final look be more balanced. (Check out this instructional video for a foolproof way to arrange.)

8. Assemble a Team of Helpers
Ingram recommends asking friends or family to help with the centerpieces in advance. That means finding reliable volunteers to assist in prepping the flowers, assembling the arrangements and safely transporting them to the venue. And don’t forget to have fun with it. Consider throwing a fun flower arranging party with snacks and champagne.

Photo: Getty Images

Dreaming of a tropical rainforest-filled honeymoon escape? Don’t set your sights solely on South America. One hundred miles north of Venezuela lies one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean — Grenada — nicknamed the “Spice of the Caribbean.” Think colonial charm from its French and English background, scenery that ranges from waterfalls to hot springs and rainforests, and tucked-away villas that lead straight out to the beach. Measuring up at just 133 square miles, this island is an easy one to crisscross over the course of a weekend with activities that range from the more adventurous (scuba divers will fall in love!) to full-on relaxation with just the sea, sun and your sexy other half.

Getting There: In just three and a half hours from Miami on American Airlines, you’ll land on Grenada in the evening, right in time for cocktails and dinner. Flights are daily and the airport is just a 10-minute drive away from the resorts lining Grand Anse Beach. JetBlue and Delta also offer a few direct flights per week that clock in at around five hours of flying time, still less than a honeymoon across the pond to Europe.

Evening
Call Mount Cinnamon your home-away-from-home for the weekend, cozying up in one of the 21 villas dotting the hillside and gardens above the two-mile-long Grand Anse Beach, one of the nicest stretches of white sand on the island. The duplex-style whitewashed villas are the epitome of island eco-chic with billowy curtains, four poster beds and terraces facing the sea that double as the perfect spot for breakfast as well as Champagne come sunset. After freshening up, head down to a candlelit dinner at farm-to-table restaurant Savvy’s, where the chef will pluck produce straight from the resort’s onsite garden — this goes for coconut water, too! (Rates from $415 per night)

Photo: Savvy Grenada Sailing Charters

Day One

Morning
It’s not hard to get on island time here. Sleep in and then decide where you’d like your morning couples massage: villa or seaside cabana? Indulge in the signature Cinnamon Massage that weaves local ingredients into oils like nutmeg and cinnamon taking away any lingering post-wedding (and flight) stress, and getting you into full-on honeymoon mode in no time.

Afternoon
Trek down to the beach club and spend the rest of the morning and afternoon seaside, pausing for a BBQ lunch at the Beach Cabana tucked into the gardens along Grand Anse Beach. You can’t go wrong with the grilled fresh catch of the day, served up alongside a tropical medley of melon salsa and BBQ’ed breadfruit.

The island is surrounded by over 50 dive sites sitting above colorful coral reefs, shipwrecks and one of the highlights of them all — the Underwater Sculpture Park. Head out on a half-day snorkeling trip with Savvy Grenada Sailing Charters ($65 per person) on a hand-built sailing sloop inspired by the style of those used in the early 1800s for trading rum, cigarettes and spices from St. Barths to Trinidad. Cruise from St. George’s Harbour along the West Coast to the sculpture park — the first in the world — with over 60 statues by English sculptor Jason Taylor. Inspired by Grenada’s folklore, these works of art are easily visible from surface level while snorkeling.

Evening
Don’t want your time on the water to end? Set off into the sunset on a two-hour cruise ($45 per person) toasting to your new nuptials island-style with rum punch on board Savvy. When it’s time to head back to shore, dine with your toes in the sand at local favorite Coconut Beach Restaurant, on the northern end of Grand Anse. Set in an antique house, this low-key locale is perfect for honeymooners to sit back and enjoy the sound of the waves while dining on French Creole cuisine with a Grenadian twist. Order a bottle of chilled Chardonnay and dig into a feast of conch salad, lobster crepes, fish creole, and Caribbean chicken stewed and seasoned in Grenadian herbs and spices.

Photo: Getty Images

Day Two

Morning
Start the day on a sweet note with a cappuccino and Italian pastry — or something a bit more island-influenced like the banana-mango muffins — at Sweetly Confectioners before hitting the road for a full-day island tour. First stop: a trip to open-air St. George’s Spice Market, strolling the stands of nutmeg, ginger, clove and fresh produce set up under tents and along the street. This market really heats up come Saturdays, with roads closing down to make way for vendors pedaling their fares.

Continue the trip hugging the west coast by car with the next destination being one of the island’s most scenic — the Concord Waterfall — where you can spend the rest of the morning swimming and snapping Facebook pics sure to make everyone back home jealous. (Edwin Frank runs his own tour company and has been in the biz here for over 20 years, so not only is he a guide extraordinaire when it comes to history, he also knows some of the more hidden spots on the island; +1-473-407-5393).

Afternoon
Once you reach the northern part of Grenada, pause for lunch at the Belmont Estate Restaurant, tucked into the hills of a 17th century plantation that still functions as an organic farm and cocoa processing facility. Learn the process of bean to bar when it comes to chocolate on a quick tour before popping into The Grenada Chocolate Company to sample a bit of the small-batch organic dark chocolate.

After lunch, try a digestif in the form of a rum tasting at the oldest continuously operating rum distillery in the Western Hemisphere, River Antoine Rum Distillery, dating back to the 1800s. It’s only $2 to take a guided tour of the water-propelled distillery that still crafts rum the way the French did on the island centuries ago.

Evening
Cruise through Grand Etang Forest Reserve around the 30-acre Grand Etang Lake, sitting inside an extinct volcano crater, admiring the park’s lush mountains and tropical plants before heading somewhere even more remote.

A 40-minute drive away on the east coast of the island lies La Sagesse beach, a grey- and white-sand stretch that’s one of the most romantic on Grenada. Stop for dinner in the gardens within views of the sand at La Sagesse Beachfront Restaurant, with a menu of local fish and lobster, plus veggies grown right on the restaurant’s organic farm in the rainforest.

See More: Surf’s Up! A 3 Day Beach Honeymoon in Laguna Beach

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

Unlike many couples who dive into wedding planning with a long list of must-haves, planner Courtney Cargile remembers that Sarah Ubieta and John White had just one big request for their September 12, 2015, wedding in Sonoma, California: That the color orange be included throughout the party’s palette. “The florist and I took that comment literally, and we decided to incorporate citrus fruit to give the day a light, summery feel,” says Courtney.

With just under a year to dream up a late-summer wedding with a cheery color scheme, Sarah and John leaned heavily on Courtney’s team to create an intimate party in California’s wine country. “I knew I wanted wine country and lots of flowers, but that was my only real vision,” the bride says. In the end, they got just that. You can almost smell the citrus and feel summer’s warm breeze when you look at the images Megan Clouse Photography captured of the couple’s evening fete, held at the intimate Ramekins Culinary School in the heart of Sonoma. Read on to see more from this festive celebration!

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

Sarah’s head-to-toe lace wedding dress from Pronovias featured no less than four kinds of lace layered over tulle. “As soon as I put it on, I knew it was the one,” she says. “It was fun and different, but still romantic and traditional.” With it, she paired a cathedral-length veil, her mother’s Tiffany & Co. earrings, and a round bouquet of blush, orange, and yellow blooms.

Elliot chose a blue suit over a tuxedo, preferring a more casual look that would fit with the overall vibe of the wedding. But he made sure to wear orange socks, a nod to Sarah’s favorite color.

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

The bride didn’t have a specific vision for her bridesmaids’ dresses, but knew she didn’t want them to wear strapless. In the end, she decided on three different blush looks that her five attendants could chose from. Elliot’s groomsmen all mimicked his style in dark blue suits.

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

The ceremony was held in an outdoor courtyard, where the couple got a first glimpse of how their wedding planner brought their vision to life. As it turns out, trusting her to take the lead was the best thing Sarah and Elliot could have done. “Courtney and I would get on the phone and look at various photos and ideas and nail down what I liked and didn’t like,” Sarah explains. “From there, Courtney really ran with it. I can make decisions, but planning a wedding is not my strength.”

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

Inside the courtyard, guests found refreshing pre-wedding beverages, including cucumber water, lemonade, and iced tea, as well as a sign that instructed them to turn off and stow their cell phones for the unplugged ceremony.

The focal point of the space was a five-foot hanging floral wreath covered in citrus fruit that was suspended at the end of the aisle. The bright arrangement was complemented by two urns of fresh blooms, designating the space where the couple would say “I do,” and mini bundles of flowers that adorned aisle-facing chairs.

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

Sarah and Elliott asked two friends to officiate their ceremony, and selected their own readings to further personalize this portion of the day. After they were pronounced husband and wife, the newlyweds recessed down the aisle to “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne.

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

Guests walked beneath a custom 20-foot-long greenery garland on their way into the reception space. Just inside, seating assignments were set in copped-plated frames and hung on an iron gate that was decorated with mini terracotta pots.

At the head table, the wedding party sat in ivory nailhead chairs, while the bride and groom snuggled on a loveseat meant-for-two. At this table, the florist draped a duo of citrus garlands, flanked by wooden boxes that were filled with a variety of roses, lisianthus, tulips, dahlias, geraniums, lemons, and herbs. All table numbers were held in gold leaf mirrored frames.

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

“We installed four hanging wine barrel ring chandeliers above the tables, and decorated them with draped flowers,” Courtney says. Although beautiful, the chandeliers didn’t give off any light, so the couple decided to add mercury glass-held candles to the tables and amber up-lighting to the patio walls for glowing ambiance.

At each place setting, iridescence saffron napkins hinted Sarah’s love of the color orange. Sunburst gold chargers and rose gold flatware further complemented the evening’s overall color palette.

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

The couple’s three-tier buttercream-frosted strawberry and basil cake was accented with fresh flowers.

Photo: Megan Clouse Photography

Sarah and Elliot shared their first dance as husband and wife to Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.” Looking back on the day, the couple says they’re glad they kept their guest list to just 106 people. “Because the wedding was small, we were actually able to enjoy the wedding with each of our guests and it felt much more intimate,” the bride says. “Having both sides of our families come together along with our close friends for the weekend and celebrate with us was exactly what we wanted.”

Venue & Catering: Ramekins Culinary School || Wedding Planner: Courtney Cargile Event Production & Design || Bride’s Wedding Dress & Veil: Pronovias, purchased at J Del Olmo Bridal Gallery || Jewelry: Tiffany & Co. || Shoes: Christian Louboutin || Hair & Makeup: It’s a Date || Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale || Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Attire: Andrisen Morton || Florist: PoppyStone Floral Design || Invitations: The Card Bar || Music: Bellarosa String Quartet; Boutique DJs || Cake: Sweet On Cake || Rentals: Encore Events Rentals; La Tavola; The Lux Productions || Photographer: Megan Clouse Photography

Looking for more inspiration like this? Then check out another couple’s wine country bash in the video below.