For Alex and Lyle, having a destination wedding was a dream come true. The couple met in 2016 in Nashville, Tennesee and immediately started their journey. After getting engaged, the bride (who is a professional wedding planner herself) had her heart set on an outdoor beachside wedding. What better place than The Sunshine State? Endless palm trees, timeless ocean waves, and inevitable sunshine. It’s safe to say the destination was a perfect match!

The couple decided on Ponte Vedra Beach, FL for their destination wedding after falling in love with the venue and all the amenities it provided. “We just loved the trellis we would have our reception under at this venue,” Alex said.

Upon planning their special day, Alex, a wedding planner herself, dealt with most of the couple’s arrangements, along with help from Vision in White Events. The couple ran into a local sea turtle law concerning having “sea turtle safe lights” near the beach. “This was the biggest struggle for our wedding,” the groom says. “But after contacting the local county we were able to figure it out.”

Come wedding day, the couple exchanged vows in a ceremony surrounded by their closest friends and family. The couple held a beautiful reception that showcased all of Alex’s and her friend’s DIY decor. Which included cheers signs on a champagne wall for the guest to take pictures, custom dog toppers for their wedding cake, and even a dog-themed bar called “Charlie’s Bar.” All the guests enjoyed the various styles of music hits, special drinks, and hours of dancing, which made for the perfect celebration. Before the end of the night, Alex and Lyle asked their guests to sign a handmade “guestbook” that would hold the memories of all that came and shared the special moment with the couple.

In the end, Alex and Lyle got everything they could’ve asked for and more when it came to their destination wedding. Looking back, the couple says they made the best decision choosing Florida for their destination wedding, and they leave other couples with this bit of wisdom.

“Hire a wedding planner! I had two girls from my team there coordinating the whole thing and could never have done it without them,” the couple says. I would never have been able to do all the planning for a destination wedding without having a planning background myself.”

Vendors: Photographer: John Myers Photography; Planner: Vision in White Events; Ceremony/Reception Site: Ponte Vedra Lodge and Club; Florist: Fresh by Carryann; Stationery: Minted; Cake: Cakes and Co (Nashville); Hair & Makeup: Leslie Anne Aesthetics; Gown Designer: Modern Trousseau; Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse; Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Birdy Grey