When temperatures start to drop and winter sets in, many people flock to different parts of the country to trade in the chilly air for warmer weather. That is what Ally and Paul decided to do for their November wedding, traveling from Delaware to Florida where they tied the knot at the bride’s parent’s home in Delray Beach, a place that offered both sunshine and sentimental value.

“We knew we wanted an outdoor venue and what better place to have significance than at her parent’s house,” the groom says.

The couple adored the grand gazebo in the backyard, which had ornate details and stood even taller than the gorgeous trees that surrounded it. Accompanied by a turquoise pool and plenty of space, Ally and Paul knew this was the perfect spot for their ceremony.

With the venue chosen, the couple got to work on planning their big day.

“We had weekly, sometimes daily calls with our wedding planner with set agendas to help guide our to-do lists. We visited the destination a couple of times leading up to the wedding with jam-packed schedules and meetings to make the most of our time there,” the couple says.

Though Ally and Paul lived states away from their venue, they were able to communicate wonderfully with their wedding planner and vendors, as well as receive plenty of great advice from them. Everyone worked together to make sure their special day was filled with stunning greenery, glowing lanterns, and decadent treats. Ally and Paul even added a few personal touches.

“We built a barrel table with a corkboard top to hold our guest’s escort cards and guest book. We also created table number labels on wine bottles. We utilized our custom wine logo on cigar wrappers, matches, napkins and guest bags,” the couple says.

They also had a large white tent in the yard complete with swirling lights and a live band. Guests were even given shiny hats and glow sticks to light up the night.

And the fun didn’t stop there—the couple made the wedding a weekend event, starting with drinks on Friday night and ending with a lovely brunch on Sunday morning.

“It was nice that we could make it a weekend event and not just a day. In the end, we don’t think any of our guests complained about having to travel to warm Delray Beach, Florida in November just when it started to get cold in the northeast,” the couple says.

Having had such a memorable day, Ally and Paul gained many insights to share with other couples.

“We would definitely recommend hiring an expert wedding planner that knows the destination well. Our wedding planner not only helped make excellent vendor recommendations but also stayed on top of them throughout the whole process.  She was also a huge help in coordinating the day of events to make sure everything ran smoothly. She took a lot of stress out of the whole wedding planning experience,” the couple says.

With a weekend full of happiness, and a venue both elegant and intimate, Ally and Paul will never forget their warm wedding celebrations,

“We’re happy that whenever we visit Ally’s parent’s house in Florida we can reminisce on all the amazing memories of our wedding night. We also would not have had beautiful palm trees and the stunning greenery backdrop in our photos had we had our wedding in the northeast,” the couple says.

Vendors: Photographer: Starfish Studios; Wedding Planner: Kiss the Planner; Catering and Decor: Events MAR; Florist & Cake: MAR; Stationery: The Papery Princeton; Hair Stylist: Jenny Berger; Makeup: Ingrid Moncada; Gown Designer: Nicole Milano; Bridesmaids’ Dress Designer: Jenny Yoo; Groomsmen’s Clothing Designer: Jos. A Bank; Band: The Headliners Band; Officiant: Reverend Eddie Rodriguez