Teresa and Amanda's Florida Wedding on the Beach

The Couple

Teresa and Amanda met in high school in Atlanta. Although they shared some classes, they didn't notice one another until the last day of junior year. Their friendship began that following year, and a decade later Teresa proposed during a family vacation, with help from her 9-month-old cousin (and future ring bearer). The toddler wore a onesie that read, "Auntie A, will you marry Auntie T?" On May 3, 2014, Teresa and Amanda tied the knot during a magical day on the beach with close family and friends.

They journeyed from their home in Georgia to the sunny coast of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for their nuptials at the WaterColor Resort. Amanda had been visiting a nearby beach since she was a child, and the location became special for both brides.

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The Invitation

The couple invited guests using Minted's "Love Letter" design, customized with a background resembling a chalkboard. They were mailed in envelopes calligraphed by Ashley Buzzy Lettering.

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The Welcome Bag

A custom map drawn by NattyMichelle screenprinted on tote bags greeted each guest upon arrival. The map outlined the wedding location and the events of the weekend, plus favorite spots of the brides. The same map was also printed and served as a keepsake that guests signed during the reception.

Inside each welcome bag was a collection of fun stuff curated by Teresa and Amanda: Sofia mini sparkling wine cans, sea salt caramel chocolate bars, Pedialyte powder packs (the couple's surefire hangover helper), Advil, Tums, a bag of Popchips, a glass bottle of Coca-Cola, and mini bottles of Jameson Irish Whiskey (a favorite of the duo's and the inspiration for their daughter's name).

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Summery Signage

"We loved the idea of having these lovely, permanent-looking signs everywhere to help guide guests and highlight certain elements that were particularly important to us," Amanda says. To create them, they worked with Back 40 Life through Etsy.

After the wedding, the signs were repurposed and displayed in the newlyweds' home. The "shoe valet" sign hangs in Amanda's closet above her shoe racks. The "whiskey bar" sign is the new name for the alcove bar in their dining room. And the main directional sign is prominently featured in the backyard behind their pool.

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The Fashions

Amanda glowed in a Jenny Packham "Esme" gown, paired with a custom belt made by Kelly's Closet, Jenny Packham "Anisette" bridal headdress, Manolo Blahnik shoes, and Tiffany & Co. earrings.

Teresa sported a custom suit made by her uncle Quang Dau, the head tailor for Atlanta-based designer Sid Mashburn. She accessorized with a Ralph Lauren shirt and shoes, cufflinks (with the initials of her wife-to-be and daughter), and a Rolex watch, a wedding gift from her parents.

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Something Blue

Amanda carried a bouquet of muted blue hydrangeas. "It tied in nicely with my gown, which had some very pale, milky blue crystal embellishments in addition to the pearls, beads, and sequins," Amanda says.

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The Bridal Party

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Bridesmaids wore Armour Sans Anguish dresses made from reclaimed materials in a spectrum of pale shades and carried white hydrangea bouquets.

The group posed for portraits in Cerulean Park before the ceremony.

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One Very Special Guest

The couple's daughter, Jameson, was 14 months old on the big day.

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Barefoot on the Beach

Since the ceremony took place on the beach, it was fitting to have the guests sans shoes with sand between their toes. Benches flanked a white cubby so folks could sit down to remove their shoes, and a rattan rug was available when they went back on. Brushes and towels were on hand at the shoe valet to help guests remove sand after the ceremony.

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The Programs

The style of the stationery suite was applied to the programs, also ordered through Minted. On the back was an image taken by photographer Jeremy Harwell when Teresa and Amanda went to New York City the year prior to be legally married.

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The Little Ones

Flower girls Skyla and Lalani wore dresses from Monsoon and ring bearer Preston wore a suit from Seed Factory and a bow tie from Duckie's Shop of Fun. The three are the children of Teresa's cousins.

Planner Eva Clark, of Belle of the Ball Events, crafted ribbon wands for the girls to wave as they walked up and down the aisle during the ceremony.

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The Ceremony

Teresa and Amanda planned their ceremony after doing extensive online research and pulling in ideas sourced from other places. Their close friend performed the early evening service, after meeting with each bride individually prior to the wedding and including sweet words, funny stories, and anecdotes from those meetings in her remarks. Amanda says it was a pleasant surprise to hear some of the notes that were shared. They also included a hand-holding blessing.

As for music? Eva Cassidy's "Songbird" played as the brides' mothers entered, followed by "Easy" by Lionel Richie for the arrival of the wedding party. Teresa and Amanda walked in together to Tracy Chapman's "The Promise" and walked back up the aisle to "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey.

Fisher's Flowers aided in creating the scene, using pews for seating and two branch and hydrangea arrangements at the front to anchor the setup.

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Cocktail Hour

Both ladies have been longtime fans of Fish Out of Water, the main restaurant at the WaterColor Resort, and were excited to enjoy its menu during the celebration. Cocktail hour fare reflected the duo's love of comfort food and included mini panhandle crab cakes, pulled pork sliders, deviled eggs with sriracha and country ham, and vegetable spring rolls.

In addition to offerings at a custom whiskey bar, the 75 guests also sipped on two citrusy and refreshing signature cocktails: a Hemingway daiquiri and a French 75.

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A Beautiful Day

With record rainfall and flooding, the weather leading up to the wedding weekend was stressful. But the sun came out just in time for the day's events.

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The Reception

Long tables were dressed in Linen Hero shimmery white linens and burlap runners, mercury glass vessels holding white hydrangeas (Amanda's favorite flower), and crystal candelabra. White plates were topped with pale blue napkins. Silver Chiavari chairs completed the look.

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Sew Cool

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Embroidered burlap table numbers by Holly Davidson hung from candelabra at each table.

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On the Menu

The seated dinner kicked off with a cauliflower soup with chive crème fraîche, followed by an heirloom fried green tomato salad. Guests had preselected their choice of entrée, either grilled black grouper with sweet corn relish and a side of spring pea risotto with truffles and grilled asparagus; roasted filet with grilled cold-water lobster tail and a side of chive-whipped potatoes and fried Brussels sprouts; or grilled vegetables with spring pea risotto. The courses were outlined on a flat-printed card by Minted.

For dessert, guests indulged in wedding cake, as well as an ice cream sundae bar and a coffee and cordials station, including Bailey's, Frangelico, and Armagnac.

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Dinner Al Fresco

Overhead View of Guests Eating at Reception Tables

Strings of bulb lights added a glow as the sun set midway through the waterfront reception, which took place at The Inn Green. Later in the evening, attendees moved to the beach for a bonfire, with all the fixings for s'mores on hand, plus a cooler of beer, soda, and water.

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The First Dance

Teresa and Amanda took to the dance floor to a version of "Same Love" by Macklemore and Mary Lambert that was recorded by a high school friend.

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The Wedding Cake

Bake My Day created the vanilla cake with buttercream icing that boasted various fillings among the four tiers: citrus raspberry, coconut mango, and mango. A vintage broach and silver ribbon tied the look of the cake into the look of Amanda's dress. There was also a devil's food cake, with chocolate ganache and caramel, in the shape of a whimsical airplane, as Teresa works in the aviation field.

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