Join the Edison & Ford Winter Estates at the Tropical Florida Bridal Fair on Sunday, January 24th, 2010 from 1pm-5pm. Over 40 vendors will be on site at Southwest Florida’s premiere wedding venue to answer your questions and display their work. Enjoy two bridal fashion shows featuring wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, menswear and more, hosted by Lace & Roses Bridal. Sample menu favorites from local caterers, listen to music from area musicians, and learn a move or two from the dance performers of Rhythm In Motion Dance Studio. Come down to the Riverside Lawn to see the Wedding Reception Showcase from Creative Events & Rentals and Studio Six Eleven Events. There will be giveaways throughout the afternoon, so be sure to come early and stick around. Brides get in FREE and all others are just $5 at the door. Call the Estates Event Department at 239.334.7419 for more information.
You may recall earlier this year when we posted Rachel & Steve’s Save-the-Dates and Wedding Invitations. The two tied the knot last month, and the photos are in. They are every bit as vibrant as their printed materials promised. The wedding was held on a perfect November afternoon in the Royal Palm Allee on the Historic Ford Property. The details are spectacular – take a look:
Six groomsmen pose asa symbol of support behind Steve under the largest Banyan Tree in the continental United States.
Just as The Beatles on the cover of Abbey Road, the groomsmen strolled across McGregor Boulevard. In true John Lennon fashion, the groom took off his shoes.
Rachel & Steve decided to take all their photos before the ceremony, but they didn’t want to miss that magic moment where they see each other for the first time. So we gave them the opportunity to have that moment alone in the Moonlight Garden at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
Rachel & Steve get a private moment to see each other before the wedding.
The groomsmen donned purple striped ties, and double yellow orchid boutonnieres.
Steve’s boutonniere was a bright green orchid paired with a white tie.
Rachel’s bouquet was loaded with brightly colored tropical flowers.
The bridal party was dressed in purple bridesmaid dresses, and purple striped groomsmen ties. Here they pose for a group photo in the bamboo at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
Steve steals a kiss as Rachel’s veil blows romantically in the breeze.
Rachel shows off her sassy red shoes hidden beneath her beautiful wedding gown.
Rachel & Steve are perched (like birds) atop the winding roots of the Mysore Fig at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
Rachel’s veil blows in the wind as she is escorted down the aisle by her father.
The incredible Royal Palm Allee stretches from the back porch of the Ford House to the Caloosahatchee River, making the perfect wedding aisle.
Color was everywhere in sight during this perfect November afternoon in the Royal Palm Allee.
Rachel & Steve each wrote their own emotional vows to one another.
Jamie from Jamie Lee Photography has a great talent for catching the sunlight at just the right angle to produce images as breathtaking as this one of Rachel & Steve under the canopy of the Banyan Tree.
Sunsets on the Caloosahatchee River are unmatched. Here the newlyweds take it in from the pier at the Royal Palm Yacht Club. In the background is the sillhouette of the Edison Pier.
Another peek at the invitations from Mama’s Sauce Print Shoppe that set the theme of the wedding.
The Eventz, Inc. centerpieces on the reception tables carried the colorful theme through the reception. Also pictured are the matching love bird table cards printed and designed by Mama’s Sauce Print Shoppe.
Rachel & Steve had caramel apples as wedding favors and escort cards.
The wedding cake from Mason’s Bakery was as colorful as every other detail. The topper is the chinese symbol for double happiness.
Rachel & Steve enjoyed their first dance as a married couple under colorful paper lanterns at the Royal Palm Yacht Club.
You know your wedding reception is a hit when there are this many guests on the dance floor.
Haley and David made it official this December. Their wedding ceremony took place in the Royal Palm Allee on the historic riverside property of Henry Ford at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida. There were so many perfect little details that made this dream wedding a magical one.
Bridesmaids wore beautiful, long purple gowns – each a little different than the other.
The groomsmen wore long coats and wide purple ties, reflecting the era of the historic Estates.
Hydrangea balls on shepherds hooks decked the aisle between the palms in the Royal Palm Allee.
Roses, lilies, and hydrangeas decorated the ceremony space.
The flower girl raced the bagpiper down the aisle!
The brides bouquet of hydrangeas, roses, and calla lilies was adorned with a long string of pearls.
The couple chose a sand ceremony with purple & black sand to symbolize their union.
David and Haley walk down the Royal Palm Allee, newly wed.
The newlywed couple takes a minute to wave goodbye before taking off in their antique getaway.
The couple steal away in an authentic 1926 Model T.
The couple pose next to their getaway car.
A special moment is captured in the Model T’s side mirror.
The couple’s happiness is reflected in the pool at the Moonlight Garden.
Alexis and Justin got married in March on Ford’s Riverside Lawn at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. The riverside lawn is the perfect location for wedding décor as it is nearly a blank canvas. Guests will pass the impressive Mysore Fig Tree as they step onto this lush green lawn positioned right on the Caloosahatchee River. This lawn is so large that it is often the site for tented wedding receptions. Take a peek at Alexis and Justin’s gorgeous wedding photos taken by Mielke Photography.
Last month, Mandy & Chris of Fort Myers got married in the Royal Palm Allee on the riverside of the Ford House at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Mandy with her five flower girls walked down an aisle of 75′ royal palms. Behind them was an arch of bamboo framing the Caloosahatchee River. The light blue and brown theme was carried throughout the event with program fans and a unity sand ceremony. Check out these spectacular photographs from Jamie Lee Photography (click to enlarge):
Sarah & Brian are getting married next summer in Upstate New York but are residents of Fort Myers. Audrey Snow did an incredible job photographing these two lovebirds last month at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Click on the photos to enlarge
Mary Lee & Larry, a cheerful Chicago couple, said, “ I do” this October at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. The ceremony took place in Edison’s tropical Coconut Grove on the Caloosahatchee River. Click on the images to enlarge:
The ceremony took place late afternoon in Edison’s Coconut Grove under a tropical arbor decorated with roses, lilies, hydrangeas, and palms.
Mary Lee & Larry poured colored sand into a glass keepsake container to symbolize their union.
The ring bearer carried the wedding bands tied to ribbons in a large shell.
The wedding party poses for photos in the Mysore Fig Tree on the Ford Riverside Lawn.
Mary Lee & Larry share a moment in Mina Edison’s Moonlight Garden.
The newlyweds take in the beautiful sunset over the Caloosahatchee River with Edison’s Pier in the background.
The happy couple holds up a JUST MARRIED sign as they are delivered by Golf Cart to their reception at the Royal Palm Yacht Club.
Sand dollars in a treasure chest act as escort cards.
Wedding guests sign names and well wishes on a matted photo of the couple.
The tropical seashell cake is accompanied at the reception by the unity sand.
No detail was overlooked, even the cake knives sported orchids.
The tables were named after islands in Southwest Florida.
One of the most common mistakes I have seen brides make when budgeting their wedding is cutting out the wedding video. Photographs alone do not capture the butterflies in your stomach, the emotions in your vows, or Uncle Charlie’s killer dance moves. You have worked hard to make your wedding day perfect. The wedding video is your time machine to the best day of your life. In years to come, you will be able to relive that first dance, your maid of honor’s toast, and listen to the well-wishes of family members who have since passed away.
I recently interviewed Don Moon of Captiva Video to get the scoop on wedding videos. Don filmed Holly and Dean’s wedding at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates this spring and edited it especially for our blog. Take a look:
What inspired you to get into videography?
I got into videography when my daughter was born in 1987. Video cameras were just coming onto the scene and we bought one of the first ones out. Because I had a camcorder before anyone else, friends and family asked me to videotape their weddings and parties. I soon joined the Wedding and Event Videography Association (WEVA) and attended their convention every year to improve my skills. This is my 15th year videotaping weddings, and I have seen videography improve year after year. The wedding videos of today are more like a movie.
What are some new trends you are seeing in wedding videos?
I have seen trends change from a no-effects documentary of the wedding to a special effects epic film. The trend now is to use special effects only if they help tell the story. Some of the special effects that are popular right now include slow motion, black and white, shadow box (black border along the top and bottom of the frame), and soft focus (where the clip has a soft dreamy like effect). Video clips that fly off the screen are out right now. As far as music, sound tracks from hit movies are definitely in. Whenever a new movie comes out with a great sound track, all the videographers incorporate that music into their production.
Tell me about the most interesting wedding you’ve filmed.
The most high end wedding I have videotaped so far was the wedding of Vidal Sassoon’s son, David. It was held in Connecticut a few years back. It was a very extravagant affair.
What advice do you have for brides when hiring a videographer?
My advice is to make sure he/she is a professional. So many videographers work another job and videotape weddings on the side. Make sure that the videographer is a member of at least one trade organization. I belong to Wedding and Event Videography Association (WEVA), National Association of Wedding Professionals (NAWP), and Wedding and Party Professionals of Naples (WPPN). The main quality a bride should be looking for is the ability to unobtrusively capture the day without infringing on it. The videographer must have the equipment to bring the images to life in vivid color. A good wireless microphone system is very important as good audio is the key to a well produced video.
What can one expect to pay for videography services?
My prices range from $595 to $3595. We have packages to meet any budget.
What other services do you offer?
I offer photo montages or slideshows that the couple can play at their reception. They are always the hit of the party and can arouse quite a bit of emotion. The person organizing the photo montage must number the photos in the order they would like them to appear in the slideshow. They also choose the music; typically 1 song per 25 photos.
Some of you will remember seeing Rachel and Steve’s gorgeous save-the-dates from an earlier post. I recently received the corresponding invitation in the mail. Take a look:
These invitations were designed by Austin Petito from Mama’s Sauce Print Shoppe in Winter Park, Florida. Rachel and Steve were inspired to do a two birds theme after seeing a Chinese wedding invitation on the web with two quirky, but colorful birds. They found further inspiration in a colorful silk Batik scarf that they picked up while visiting Rachel’s family in Malaysia last August. “We weren’t sure what we wanted the invitations to look like, but we knew we wanted lots of rich colors including red. When used in weddings, red is a symbol of good luck and happiness in the Chinese culture. Austin came up with this amazing design that Steve and I absolutely love!” says Rachel.
This colorful theme will be carried throughout the wedding on the programs and table numbers. In preparation for Edison & Ford Holiday Nights, the Estates will also have colorful lights strung from the trees in the Royal Palm Alleé where Rachel and Steve will be saying their vows this November.
