caroline & craig | carlouel yacht club wedding photography | clearwater, florida

how it all came together …

… insight from caroline …

what was your favorite moment, or favorite part, of your wedding day?
My favorite part of our wedding was being with the wedding party after the ceremony and right before the reception. The groomsmen started clapping and before we knew it we were all yelling “Let’s get weird!” We were really loud! Haha. It was a moment filled with elation and pure joy!

is there anything you wish you had done differently when planning your wedding?
I would have done a lot more Yoga! I was a very anxious bride and I had a fair amount of moments where I felt overwhelmed. Looking back, I realize that nobody cares! Everyone is there to support you and have fun. However, I definitely would have put the right address on my wedding invitations! That probably would have cut down the anxiety a bit!

which three vendors were most important to you when planning your wedding?
Venue, Wedding Planner, Photographer/Videographer. Craig and I did not have a videographer which we regret. We had our officiant wear a GoPRO that captured our ceremony beautifully, but the reception footage would have been hilarious! It’s one day to remeber forever..get it on video.

what was your biggest wedding day savings? (and was it worth it?)
We saved a ton on flowers and decor. The decor was built in to our venue so we didn’t feel the need to dress it up a lot. Looking back, we could of had more. It was worth the savings for sure, but it looked a bit sparse.

what was your biggest wedding day splurge? (and was it worth it?)
Food and Alcohol! The wedding was just as much about celebrating our guests as it was about celebrating Craig and I. I wanted them to have amazing food and strong, endless drinks. Nobody ever says “Wow! I really wish I had a centerpiece!”

what was the best advice you received when planning your wedding? (and did you listen?)
Don’t sweat the small stuff. No, I did NOT listen one bit. What else is there to sweat?!

was there anything encountered during wedding planning that was unexpected?
I wasn’t exoecting to have to make every single decision. Some people really love that, but I do not. I think I watched too many David Tuterra wedding and thought that my wedding would just magically happen! I knew exactly what I wanted but I was not expecting the amount of detail and decisions that go in to planning such a life event.

was there a moment(s) during your wedding day that surprised you?
Our wedding was far better than I even imagined it would be! There were many moments that surprised me. The day unfolded in a magical way that was (and will be) very specific to the wedding, our family and Craig and I. The most surprising thing about our wedding was that it exceeded my expectations and I already knew that it was going to be great!

when you look back on your wedding day in 50 years, what do you think you’ll remember most?
I could write a book about this. A wedding is more than just a day. It is a culmination and a celebration of a milestone between two people. If I had to answer one thing, it would be the reaction of my handsome groom as I walked down the aisle and the way it felt to be standing next to him at the alter. To have our closest friends and family there to witness that moment it was truly unforgettable.