Wednesday, August 22, 2018

A St. Augustine Destination Wedding

Words by Brianna Williams
Photos courtesy of Tracey-Ann Jarrett

Ashley and Nicholas had an easy time deciding on a destination wedding in St. Augustine, Florida after they realized the majority of their guests would have to travel for the couple’s big day regardless. “Knowing this, we felt a destination wedding would be a perfect way to turn our one special day into a memorable weekend vacation for everyone,” says the couple.

The couple found that most of their guests were thrilled to spend a weekend in St. Augustine. The couple expressed how the trip would be a wonderful getaway to those who were initially hesitant. “Ultimately, all of our guests loved the variety of options they had in St. Augustine,” says the couple. “From going to the beach to exploring the oldest city in America, no one was left without something exciting to do.”

Fortunately, the guests didn’t face any travel issues and Ashley and Nicholas decided against blocking rooms at nearby hotels based on feedback from their guests. “With Airbnb and HomeAway being so popular, many guests chose those options,” said the bride. “Additionally, we recommended a few hotels within walking distance.”

The couple visited St. Augustine together exactly one year before they wed. “We weren’t engaged at the time and had no idea that this would be where we would eventually tie the knot,” says the newlyweds.

The couple knew from the beginning that they wanted a unique venue for their big day. They stumbled upon The White Room in St. Augustine and instantly fell in love with its charm.

Planning also came easily for the couple. Although they did a fair amount of reading from books and magazines, the couple found that the best resource was a referral list provided by The White Room, which helped the couple find and sort through reliable vendors to work with from a distance. “Email was our best friend,” says the bride. “Most of our vendors responded within a day, which was very appreciated.”

Both the bride and groom contributed to the wedding décor with a few do-it-yourself projects. Nicholas made the wooden table numbers as well as wooden initial letters for the reception. Ashley created the welcome sign, ceremony programs and dinner menus.

The couple originally looked into planning their wedding in South Florida, where they live, but found that venues were more expensive. “We would like to think we spent less money by doing a destination wedding, but ultimately I think it just allowed us the opportunity to have more of what we wanted for our special day,” says the couple.

Overall the couple feels they made the best decision for all involved to have a destination wedding. “The historical vibe that St. Augustine provided can’t be matched in South Florida,” says the newlyweds.

Ashley’s advice to other couples planning their weddings is fairly simple, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. No one has any idea if something isn’t exactly how you planned. It's your day, your wedding and it flies by. Enjoy every moment!”

Vendors: Photographer: Tracey-Ann Jarrett Photography, Ceremony/Reception Site: The White Room, Florist: Jade Violet Wedding Floral, Cake: Elena Gillen with One Sweet Bite at a Time, Hair: Heather Dawn, Makeup: Christina Burns, Gown Designer: Essense of Austrailia, Groom’s Clothing Designer: Weddington Way and Men's Warehouse