Get ready to soak up the sun with Melinda and Briggs! Their Perez Miami Art Museum wedding blends vibrant tropical vibes with timeless elegance. Set against the venue’s stunning architecture and picturesque views, their big day showcased a fresh color palette, modern decor, and lush foliage and blooms, creating a true tropical paradise.
Beneath a canopy of lush tropical leaves, the couple exchanged heartfelt vows, with their wedding monogram projected above. As evening fell, the reception glowed with stunning tropical decorations—like towering centerpieces and earthy touches—blending perfectly with the beautiful surroundings.
Adding their unique flair to every moment, the couple infused their special day with personal touches, all beautifully captured by the talented Junebug member Elisa Lopez Photography. If you’re looking for unconventional inspiration for your own celebration, don’t miss out on experiencing the magic of their day.
Let this event inspire you to think outside the box, add your own special touches to your wedding, and work with trusted vendors to make your dreams come true. Your big day should reflect your journey together, making it a memorable experience for all your guests.
Emma and Adam dreamed of a wedding where everyone could enjoy themselves and discover the beauty of Puglia. They wanted their special day to reflect their personalities, with a relaxed atmosphere in the countryside, surrounded by their closest friends and family. Their Masseria San Micheledestination wedding blended timeless elegance with a colorful palette, stunning floral arrangements, and chic fashion, making it everything they hoped for and more. It was the perfect recipe for a truly unforgettable celebration.
Their courtyard ceremony, surrounded by stunning floral arrangements, became a deeply meaningful moment as they exchanged vows. The festivities continued with a delightful garden reception featuring a long, winding table decorated with abundant flowers, foliage, and candles, all illuminated by the soft twinkle of lights overhead.
Their special day was a perfect blend of timeless elegance and their own personal flair. Thankfully, Lato Photography was on hand to expertly capture every exquisite detail and cherished moment of their magical celebration. Keep scrolling to experience the beauty and charm of their wedding day all over again.
How Their Masseria San Michele Destination Wedding Came To Be
From the outset, we were confident about one thing: our wedding had to reflect who we were and spread joy to our loved ones. We aimed to bring smiles to their faces from the moment they arrived in our special corner of the world. This place holds a unique significance for us, inspiring the relaxed, chic, and fun atmosphere we envisioned. Surprising many with the vibrant colors we incorporated into the day, we carefully balanced them to harmonize with the venue while delivering impactful moments. Our mantra to our wedding planner was simple: let’s have fun. Though she may have thought we wanted a circus, our goal was simply to ensure everyone had a fantastic time and felt cared for, especially given the number of guests traveling from around the globe, some of whom we hadn’t seen in over five years. Our top priority was making them feel welcome in a place that has welcomed us so warmly over the years.
Choosing Modern Elegance and Sustainable Wedding Style
My look was inspired by the NewWhite bridal aesthetic, which is modern and cool with a feminine touch sprinkled on top. I also found a lot of inspiration from Spanish designers such as Poydel. He is a Spanish designer who creates stunning looks. Unfortunately, multiple trips to Madrid were not feasible for him to create the dress, but I kept that vibe in mind throughout. I kept the accessories simple with two gold bangles and gold dome earrings and let the dress speak for itself. It’s straightforward and timeless but has an architectural dimension to the top that I just love. The day’s make-up was pared back and focused on light contouring and bronzed tones. Adam’s suit was a beautiful brown linen that he would be 100% able to wear again, which was essential to us. We didn’t want too much waste as part of our wedding, so we wanted to ensure we could re-wear as much as possible. I’m already planning how to turn my wedding dress into something I can wear again.
A Personalized Ceremony Script and Handwritten Vows
We had one of our best friends, Laurence, write the whole ceremony by asking us about how we met, our love story, and stories from our six-year relationship. Neither of us knew what to expect, and it was absolute perfection. We also wrote our own vows, which were terrifying but were amazing. It was the talking point for our guests throughout the weekend.
Wedding Wisdom: Balancing Inspiration with Personal Preferences
The best advice I share with all couples getting married is to look for inspiration and have fun, but don’t get lost in the social media bubble. Depending on your circumstances, it can get you down looking at things that don’t fit your venue, budget, or even the wedding you want. So put the social media down after a few first weeks of planning and go with what brings a smile to your face, not necessarily what will bring one to social media.
A Destination Wedding Journey Through Puglia
As it was a destination wedding, we wanted people to feel taken care of and get the opportunity to explore Puglia from multiple vantage points. We went to Ostuni, the white city, for our welcome drinks and celebrated in the windy cobbled streets to welcome our guests. The wedding day highlighted the simplicity and excellent cuisine of the region with freshly made mozzarella, meats, cheeses, and delicious fish dishes. We ended the weekend with a pool party at our venue, and it was the perfect send-off for our friends and family to relax in the Puglian sun with a pizza and beer in hand. Everyone left smiling and truly happy to have experienced the weekend with us all.
Congratulations to Emma and Adam on their chic and colorful Masseria San Michele destination wedding. A big thank you to Lato Photography for skillfully capturing every breathtaking detail and cherished moment of their enchanting celebration.
Thinking about a destination wedding? It’s a great way to have an intimate celebration with loved ones and build unforgettable memories. But here’s the scoop: for a truly remarkable experience, hook up with seasoned vendors who can make your day extra special. Ready to kickstart your journey? Check out our lineup of top-notch wedding pros from around the globe!
Jenny and Trevor envisioned a small, intimate celebration centered around delicious food and drinks. Their goal was to create a relaxed atmosphere, allowing ample time for guests to mingle and enjoy themselves. Rather than opting for a traditional wedding, they aimed for the ambiance of a sophisticated dinner party. By focusing on what truly mattered to them and cutting out unnecessary stress, they curated their Autostrada wedding to perfection.
Wanting a chic and cozy wedding space, the downtown restaurant played a crucial part in bringing their vision to life. The design inspiration stemmed from pieces that the bride and groom knew they wanted to wear. The bride showcased a sleek look—a chic white gown with a stunning cape for a classic touch, while the groom rocked a white tuxedo jacket inspired by James Bond’s iconic look. To add an extra pop of personality, unique arrangements in bold red adorned every part of the space.
If you love the idea of modern elegance with a touch of charm, you’re in for a treat with the stunning photos taken by Junebug member Meghan Hemstra. Keep scrolling to see how couples are getting creative to celebrate their love in unique ways.
Creating a Stylish Statement by Drawing Inspiration from Unique Fashion Pieces
The inspiration came from items we were set on wearing: a pair of Mondo Mondo earrings, the Cardinal earrings in gold with red stones (which perfectly matched the after-party outfit), and James Bond’s iconic white tuxedo jacket with a red carnation from Goldfinger 1967. Our attire blended classic, clean lines with conservative elements for the dress and hair while adding bold touches such as vintage jeweled mules by Manolo Blahnik, long red nails, and a vibrant lip color. I was most excited about the after-party dress, aiming for comfort, darkness, and sultriness.
Lessons Learned From Their Autostrada Wedding
It was all a blur; as much as we tried to be present, it all went by quickly. The best part was sitting back, looking at all the photos, and reflecting on the celebrations after it was all done. All of it was good. Our advice for other couples: stick to your initial vision and do not sway from it as you start planning and get bombarded with ideas from family, friends, and other influencers.
Defying Norms and Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity
We kept it small, focusing on quality over quantity. Our celebration revolved around delicious food and drinks. We spared no expense and left our guests amazed. However, we also indulged in luxurious flowers, daring to challenge the norm. They elevated the day and stole the show. I’m okay with the flowers almost outshining the bride. We’re proud of it.
Budgeting Wisely and Making Every Dollar Count for Their Autostrada Wedding
We didn’t start with a specific budget. Instead, we individually chose a few items to splurge on and structured our budget around the rest. While we initially aimed for a $30,000 budget, our total expenses ended up closer to $45,000. We managed to save in several areas: opting for the restaurant entrance for our ceremony instead of a separate venue, forgoing a second photographer (Meghan handled everything brilliantly on her own), skipping a DJ or singer due to the small venue size, choosing a smaller wedding cake over one to feed all 40 guests, and deciding against hiring an event planner. These choices allowed us to allocate more funds towards the aspects of our wedding that were most important to us.
Taking a Leap of Faith With DIY Projects
There were only a few DIY projects for our wedding: the invitations (which we sent digitally via email), the wedding program, and the tags for party favors. Designing the wedding programs was a team effort despite neither of us having a background in graphic design. Trevor selected the Canva template, while I chose the colors. The program included details, menus, and an icebreaker game of bingo. The biggest and scariest DIY decision was doing my own makeup and hair. As a Software Account Executive, this isn’t my usual forte, but I was determined to feel like myself on the big day and took on the challenge. YouTube tutorials became my go-to resource, and I practiced once a week for two months leading up to the wedding. While I did hire my friend Marleau to style my mother and mother-in-law’s hair, she also assisted me with my ponytail, but for the most part, it was all my effort. Ultimately, I was incredibly pleased with the result and felt truly myself.
Congratulations to Jenny and Trevor on their stunning Autostrada wedding. Their special day was filled with love and style, showing that restaurant weddings can be truly beautiful. A big shoutout to Junebug member Meghan Hemstra for capturing all the magic of this unconventional celebration. It’s the perfect inspiration for couples who want to think outside the box for their own weddings. To see more of her incredible work, check out her profile in our directory of the world’s best wedding photographers.
Don’t just go through the motions as you start planning your wedding. Be intentional and choose things that show who you and your partner are. That way, your celebration will be truly yours and will stand out in everyone’s memory for a long time. Take this celebration, for instance. The unique venue option will make your wedding special and start your marriage in a fun way! With a skilled team of wedding experts, you can bring your ideas to life and make your day unforgettable.