Claire and Joe’s outdoor wedding at Palma Sola Botanical Park was a beautiful mix of breezy, elegant, and natural styles! The LA couple and their guests flew to Florida, where the bride’s parents live, for a celebration that was simultaneously glamorous and totally effortless. Swanky Soiree Events used taupe, peach, blush, and gold details on the patio tables for the reception and kept the ceremony setup minimal to highlight the lush gardens, huge trees, and natural botanical foliage. Oneco Florist also let the botanical vibe shine by creating simple table arrangements, a peach and ivory bouquet for the bride, and single-stem roses for the bridesmaids. Every detail was Florida sophistication to the max, but none more so than the bride’s beaded lace gown from Allure Bridals, which featured a stunning train. Photographer Shayla Behringer didn’t miss a beat in capturing every angle of this gorgeous spring wedding!
The Couple:
Claire and Joe
The Wedding:
Palma Sola Botanical Park, Bradenton, Florida
We always knew we wanted to have a wedding that really felt like us, something that reflected who we are and our love for each other. So creating the ceremony together, writing our own vows, and having it outside under the trees in a beautiful, open space was really important to us. It was also important that our wedding be small enough so that we could talk to everyone, that the food, drinks, and music be incredible, and that our family and friends have the most amazing time. Overall, we wanted our wedding to be joyful, beautiful, elegant yet relaxed, and fun!
I knew I wanted a dress that was form fitting, elegant, and romantic. When I found the ivory colored dress by Allure Bridals, I knew it was the one! What I loved most about my dress was also what I was most nervous about — the gorgeous but very long train. Luckily, I had lots of helpers to carry it and fluff it out when needed, and I was able to bustle it after our photos so I could dance the night away with no worries. It was totally worth it because I felt the most beautiful I have ever felt walking down the aisle towards the love of my life in that dress! I also knew I wanted to wear my hair down, but I didn’t want to cover the beautiful details on the back of the dress. So, my hair stylist created a beautiful side-swept look that fit perfectly with the dress. With a dramatic train and long hair, I kept the jewelry simple with teardrop diamond earrings and nothing else.
The entire day felt so magical, so it’s hard to choose a favorite moment. But there were definitely a few moments that stood out. Looking into each other’s eyes as we read our vows under a beautiful oak tree was one of the most moving and beautiful experiences of our lives. It was as if time stopped and it was just the two of us there. It was incredible! Also, seeing each other for the first time as I walked down the aisle was an overwhelmingly joyful and indescribable moment we will never forget.
We live in Los Angeles and love spending time outdoors, so we knew for sure we wanted to have an outdoor wedding. We wanted it to feel elegant and breezy, romantic, and natural. Once we decided we were going to have our wedding where my parents live in Sarasota, FL, we found the perfect garden venue in the neighboring town of Bradenton that fit that vibe. Because 99% of our guests would be traveling from out of state, we turned it into a wedding weekend celebration with a Friday night welcome dinner on the beach where we served tacos and drinks followed by our wedding on Saturday in a beautiful botanical garden. It allowed everyone to really enjoy the weekend and spend quality time together, creating such a feeling of connection, love, and joy.
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Shayla Behringer
Event Planning – Swanky Soiree Events
Venue – Palma Sola Botanical Park
Floral Design – Oneco Florist
Catering – Carmel Kitchen
Cake – Morton’s Bakery
DJ – Goodley Entertainment
Videography – Namesake Creative
Makeup Artist and Hair Styling – Femme Akoi
Wedding Dress – Allure Bridals via Glamour Closet LA
Alterations – A Stitch In Time
Rentals – So Staged Rentals
Transportation – Siesta Trolley
Congratulations to Claire and Joe, and a special thanks to photographer Shayla Behringer for sharing this beautiful wedding at Palma Sola Botanical Park with Junebug! Love glam wedding vibes? This Scripps Seaside Forum wedding brought glitz and glam to the beach!
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