Florida Bohemian Wedding: Jess + Joe

red wedding dress

We’re in love with today’s stunning wedding for so many reasons, but the first – and most obvious – the bride wore RED! So, so stunning, unique + FUN. In addition to that, Jess + Joe’s Florida garden nuptials were filled with so much pretty. From the boho-gypsy inspired decor, to the lush + vibrant blooms by Julia Rhode Designs, to that stunning vintage mantel-turned-ceremony-alter, we’re big fans of the design of the entire day. Jess has a lot to add about the details from the celebration, but we’re dying to hear more about her gorgeous red Roberto Cavalli dress, so let’s get the details from the source!

Out of all the ways in which we incorporated different cultural aspects, deciding to wear a red dress was probably my favorite. It’s customary for Indian brides to wear embellished attire in shades of beautiful reds but they can be a bit heavy in material and didn’t suit the feel we were trying to accomplish. This dress was perfect. It was comfortable and the red hue fit in with our notion of incorporating cultural elements.

Thanks so much to the ultra-talented Kat Braman for sharing Jess + Joe’s beautiful day with us, and best wishes to the darling newlyweds!

colorful pastel invitation

first look

first look red dress

bride and groom

bride and groom

flower girl flower crown

flower girl flower crown1

red wedding dress bride


All but one of my bridesmaids lived in other states. To make things easier on everyone, I provided some general guidelines and allowed them to choose whatever they liked. We also created a group e-mail where we could communicate to get opinions or ask for help. It all worked out perfectly.

bridesmaids

red and pink bouquet

wedding party

bride and groom


Such pretty portraits of Jess + Joe! And if you noticed their tattoos in the image above, those represent Joe’s love for fishing. Instead of exchanging traditional rings, Joe got a fishing hook tattoo and Jess got a fish!

bride and groom

bride and groom

halo red wedding dress

vintage mantle altar

family photos at altar


We had this beautiful distressed vintage mantel that was setup just behind our officiant. With the help of our family, we decided to track down wedding pictures of our family lineage as far back as we could. Glancing at those pictures from time to time during the ceremony was a true reminder of those who made all of this possible and for who we owe the most thanks to.

family photos at altar

aisle runner

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

Joe: The moment the band started to play after we said our “I Do’s”. It was official.

Jess: Joe’s emotional recital of his vows. (We wrote our own) Seeing the sheer and utter happiness on my parent’s faces. So much emotion. So much joy. So much love.

My parents and all of their friends had surprised Joe and I during the reception with a Bollywood style dance routine. They had put a lot of time and effort into preparing and choreographing it. It was so much fun to watch and really well done! The gesture was so sweet and we were both touched immensely.

cermeony

cermeony

cermeony

window pane seating chart

colored glass goblets

colored glass goblets

gold candlesticks

vintage books

green napkins

Our Musical Choices

Processional: Bridal Party: All I Want Is You – Barry Louis Polisar; Sea of Love – Cat Power (performed live by a 2-person band)

Recessional: First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes (performed live by a 2-person band)

First Dance: Harvest Moon – Neil Young (performed live by a 2-person band)

first dance

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

Hiring a wedding planner was one of the best decisions we made. Kasey was there throughout the whole journey. She knew exactly what to do and when to do it and made the whole process easier on me. In fact, when the wedding ended, I was sad knowing that I wouldn’t talk to her on a daily basis anymore. She’ll never know how much she touched our hearts. Thank you Kasey. You are a blessing.

It’s important to remember that you can’t please everyone. We made sure our wedding represented who we are as individuals and as partners. Think long-term: ask yourselves if there’s anything you would regret doing or not doing and fine-tune the details to YOUR wishes.

Joe and I had no desire to have a huge wedding. Our total guest list consisted of 85 people. If this sounds like you, I’ll pass along advice given to us: during cocktail hour (if you have one) spend the time mingling and thanking your guests for attending. This way, you and your significant other can enjoy yourselves dancing the night away out on the dance floor.

Brides tend to take the reigns when it comes to decision making. It’s important to remember your wedding day is just as much about your partner as it is about you. Make sure he or she is included in the planning process. It will make everything that much more enjoyable for everyone in the long run.

If there’s anything you shouldn’t skimp on, it’s a photographer. These are the photos you will share with your kids and their families for generations to come. Make sure you chose one whose work speaks to you. Our beyond-talented photographer, Kat Braman, was able to capture emotion like I have never seen before. She completely exceeded all expectations.

It’s easy to get caught up in all of the excitement and commotion. Make sure you spend the whole time together. Grab your partner’s hand and don’t let go.

photography: Kat Braman // venue name: Sundy House, Delray Beach, Florida // event design: Kasey D Weddings // planning: Kasey D Weddings // florals: Julia Rhode Designs // bride's shoes: Vans // hair stylist: Kristin Brown // makeup artist: Kristin Brown // videography: Pabelona Studio // linen rentals: Atlas Party Rentals // officiant: Cynthia Capaccio // bride's dress: Roberto Cavalli // vintage rentals: Unearthed Vintage // plates: Atlas Party Rentals // glassware: Atlas Party Rentals // silverware: Atlas Party Rentals // groom's suiting: J.Crew // bridesmaid dresses: ASOS and Saks Fifth Avenue

Explore: