CHARLES + HANNAH by Jessica Perez Photography

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love, what is unique about you and your relationship:

Charlie and I met in French class when he was a freshman, and I was a junior in college. I shuffled in (late, of course) on the first day of class, scanned the room for the cutest and smartest-looking guy, and plopped myself down in a seat near Charlie.

We had an instant connection, shared the same deranged sense of humor, and I could tell by his warmth and the way he described his faith and his family that he was major husband material. 

We remained good friends for several years, but being a man of impeccable timing, Charlie waited until after I graduated to make his move. We dated long-distance while Charlie finished his undergraduate degree, and upon his graduation, he moved to my hometown and we have been inseparable ever since. Now, eight years after we first met and with six years of dating under our belts, we are officially husband and wife and I thank my lucky stars I failed Italian.

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details:

I’m not going to lie; I was the girl who had been planning her wedding since she was about ten years old. My Pinterest was packed with wedding décor and bridal style inspo. Still, no amount of mood boards or color palettes can prepare you for the roller-coaster that is wedding planning, especially during an unprecedented pandemic. After planning what felt like three different weddings to no avail, we finally decided to say, “screw it!” and just GET MARRIED. We booked a trip to one of our favorite vacation spots, and with the help of our families, we quickly began planning the laid-back, intimate beach wedding of our dreams. 

Aside from the crystalline water and gorgeous white sandy beaches, Florida’s 30A region is known for its quaint beach towns that boast architecture reminiscent of Old-World Europe and Greece. As a nod to the white-on-white architecture of our favorite spot in Alys Beach (Caliza Restaurant, where we hosted our reception dinner), we opted for all white florals and requested that our guests dress in white or neutral attire as well. Sticking with the monochromatic coastal “theme,” we also incorporated dried palms and grasses into our ceremony arrangements and bouquets. Of course, we had to bring a little bit of Texas with us to the beach, so we layered a cowhide over a natural jute rug for us to stand on during the ceremony. 

Our wedding was nothing like the Pinterest-perfect soiree I’d envisioned since childhood, but in the end, our day was undoubtedly so perfectly “us.”

Tell us about your main outfits:

Confession time: this was actually my second dress! I had initially purchased a gorgeous Toni Maticevski gown for my wedding, but after changing our destination to the beach, I knew I wanted something that would be more appropriate for the setting. With only a few months to go before the big day my options were limited, but I persevered! I scoured every nook and cranny of the internet and eventually stumbled upon a designer who could create the look I envisioned on such a short turnaround. I took a chance and she did not disappoint! My dress and top arrived with time to spare and fit me like a GLOVE. The silk slip dress was timeless and classic (major Carolyn Bessette vibes), while the silk organza wrap top added an unexpected chic edge. I want to be buried in those sleeves! I kept my accessories minimal with freshwater pearl drop earrings and a simple soft tulle drop cathedral veil. 

To tux or not to tux? That was the question when it came to Charlie’s wedding day attire. Ultimately, we decided he would be most comfortable wearing a light-weight suit, so we set out to find him something in the linen family. The retail heavens parted, and we found the most perfect Italian linen-cotton blazer at J. Crew that looked like it was made for him. We paired it with a white linen button-down, a linen pocket square, and a pair of white chinos to complete the “laid-back groom” look.

What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day:

Every detail of our day was a labor of love. Since we were working with a short timeline and limited resources, we opted to “DIY” most of the details. Years from now, when I look back on our wedding day, I may not remember the outfits we wore or the food we ate or if the timeline went perfectly to plan, but I’ll remember how blessed we felt to have our families drive cross-country to witness our vows. I’ll remember how special it was that every flower was picked, plucked, and pruned by the hands of my loved ones. I’ll remember feeling like I was floating toward my groom as my sisters walked me down the longest stretch of beach known to man, my favorite Coldplay song playing softly in the background. I’ll remember how the rain threatened to put a damper on our day (literally), but the storm begged off at the last minute, ushering in the most beautiful sunset I’d ever laid eyes on. Ultimately, I’ll remember the utter euphoria I felt as I looked out over the ocean with my brand-new husband on my right and our whole future ahead of us.

Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together:

Wedding planning is no cakewalk. We often joked that the process of planning a wedding together did more to prepare us for marriage than any book or course probably could! My advice for other couples planning to enter into the covenant of marriage is to trust the process. Trust that what’s meant for you will come to pass and that your wedding will be perfect simply because it will be YOURS. Trust that those who offer advice (whether solicited or not) do so out of love and with the best intentions. Most of all, trust your partner and lean on them. Let the experience bring you closer and strengthen your relationship, because your wedding day is only the beginning!

Photography: @whoajess / Ceremony location: @rosemary_beachfl / Reception and Catering: @calizarestaurant / Flora: @afloral / Cake: @sweethenrietta / Officiant: Kim Cannon Music / Bride’s gown: @gownandaltar / Bride’s Veil: @blancaveils0 / Groom’s Attire: @jcrewmens / Rings: @kasiajewelry / Makeup and Hair: @gallantglam / Spray tan: @shelbyherronbeauty