Favorite Parts When You Look Back

Looking back, there are so many sweet and amazing things I remember about my wedding. Here are a few of my favorites…

The moment just before we said our vows, when my husband-to-be looked into my eyes and everyone and everything else just melted away…It was like we were the only two people in the universe; and the ceremony at the beach was so moving. We felt like we were one with the beauty of nature as we pledged your lives together forever.

Then there was the dance with my dad. I still cry (happy tears, of course) when I think of it.

Plus we have photos and video of my grandparents that I would not otherwise have. They looked so happy and so beautiful and handsome. My grandparents are gone now, but I will have those memories and keepsakes for a lifetime.

The same can be said of the funny photos and videos we have which encapsulate the crazy antics of our best friends. That day was all so much fun! We laughed and we cried. Specifically, I remember my maid of honor tearing up when I broke out the attendant gifts and placed her bracelet on her wrist. I think I may love her as much as my husband!

For all of you who love to play dress up, get ready to ride that ride until you run out of tickets! I felt like a princess with my court and a bunch of handsome princes to chivalrously escort us. It was like a fairytale come true.

The reception was just as perfect. It was held at our favorite beachfront venue and all of our favorite foods were served. Although, I must admit, we were so amped up that I don’t think we could even taste it!

There is no better wedding venue than the beach. It is the most beautiful place on earth and the Daytona Beach area provides a built-in honeymoon as well as an epic place to vacation for all your friends and family.

Our wedding was the biggest party we ever threw for ourselves and everyone who meant the most to us was there to share our special day. That only happens once in a lifetime (mostly) and it was absolutely perfect.

With Affordable Beach Wedding, it is even better because you don’t have to worry about a thing from the moment you get out of bed until the moment you’re back in it!

 

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It

Picture perfect…Breathtaking…An outstanding job from start to finish…Could not have been more pleased…Spectacular…Flawless service…Just right…A memory that will last a lifetime…Everything you wish for in a wedding. However, these aren’t our words. They are the words used by countless satisfied Affordable Beach Wedding clients. 

If you visit affordablebeachwedding.com, you will see seemingly endless testimonials that speak to the unrivaled service continuously provided by Eva and her team of wedding specialists. These are just a few…

Alex and Courtney said, “Everything was so perfect and smooth…perfection.”

Tiffany and Chris Gray also could not have been happier, “Eva was so friendly, considerate and attended to our every need. It was more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. Affordable Beach Wedding made our special day the most beautiful and memorable in our lives!”

But it’s not only the brides and grooms that walk away astounded, “A guest described their experience as the very best wedding. It was my vision come to life. Thank you for making my dream come true,” said Antoinette Cantrell.

Even challenges are met with ease by the professionals at Affordable Beach Wedding. “Our last minute date didn’t leave much time for planning, but they were so nice to work with and took care of everything. We had the perfect beach wedding…something I will always remember.” – Sarah and Jimmy

The accolades go on and on, “We are so pleased to have found Affordable Beach Wedding. We could not be happier,” said Graham and Leah; and Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez said that they “could not have asked for anything better.” Now, who can argue with that?

Marie F. said, “It was just beautiful and I would highly recommend this company to any bride looking for a wedding in Florida.” We would too, but – as you can see – we don’t have to!

Where the Expression “Tie the Knot” (and other Wedding Traditions) Originated

The phrase, “tie the knot,” refers to the handfasting ceremony practiced back in the days of old. Handfasting is an ancient Celtic custom that dates back to medieval times. The idea behind it is that by tying a strip of cloth in a knot around the wrists of a betrothed couple, it transforms two into one, binding them in holy matrimony. Today the phrase, “tying the knot” has expanded its meaning to just another way to say that someone is getting married.

Another romantic tradition is the ring finger, a sign of love and long-standing devotion. Wearing a wedding band on the fourth finger – the ring finger – dates back to ancient Egypt. At that time, it was believed that a vein ran all the way from the fourth finger directly to the heart. In ancient Rome, this vein was referred to as vena amoris – the vein of love. Sadly, we have no vein of the sort, but the tradition lives on.

Also, the bride always stands to the left of the groom so that he can keep his right hand free to draw his sword to protect her. It’s not necessarily something we need quite as much today, but this particular ritual has also become a steadfast tradition. Speaking of sword wielding knights in shining armor, getting down on one knee to propose can be traced back to a time when knights knelt before nobility to express their undying devotion.

Plus, do you know why bridesmaids dress alike? Way back in the day, bridesmaids dressed not only like each other, but like the bride to confuse any evil spirits.

Can’t Decide? Let Us Recommend!

As the Central Florida Coast’s premier wedding planner, we know a thing or two (hundred) about weddings. It’s one of the most important days of your life, so if you are having trouble deciding on the details of your nuptials, we are very well equipped to assist you in that department!

Affordable Beach Wedding provides pre-designed (and of course, affordable) wedding packages from exotic, to the ultimate in traditional elegance; or we can work one-on-one with you to develop the precise special day that exudes your unique style and taste.

Be the bell of the ball with our Cinderella Wedding Package, which includes a gorgeous canopy surrounded by hearts where you will engage in a romantic sand ceremony against a majestic Atlantic Ocean backdrop. Your guests will be greeted with a welcome table and sit in chairs beautifully decorated to match your color theme. There will also be welcome flags and isle decorations, which come in a variety of choices, as well as photos and music.

Want to feel like a princess on your special day? There’s a Princess Wedding Package and a Royal Wedding Package too! For those who like to keep things simple, the Simple Elegance Wedding Package is perfect for you. Feel free to visit affordablebeachweddingcom to view them all (Yes, there are plenty more!) or call Eva at 386-279-1179 or 386-428-0777 to schedule your personalized wedding consultation.

We’ve Got Your Wedding Decorations

From the finest luxurious fabrics, to an enormous selection of colors to make your wedding all your own, Affordable Beach Wedding offers an abundance of wedding decorations that are sure to match your unique style and taste.

There are so many colors from which to choose so you can set the tone for your entire wedding day with white or ivory; Victorian gold or yellow; orange or coral; purples from royal to deep, plum and lavender; greens from mint to emerald to apple; pinks from light to dark and fuchsia to dusty rose; and blues from baby to navy and royal; plus aqua, teal and turquoise. 

And those are just our standard colors! We also offer extras from any other color you prefer, to wedding bouquets and corsages, to welcome flags that flow in the gentle ocean breezes and signify love, hope and strength.

We can cover your guest chairs in white or ivory spandex with a sash. The canopies under which you will exchange your wedding vows even vary from beautiful bamboo, to a two post arch entwined with fabric or a round driftwood style. We can even place hearts in the sand to mark your special occasion.

For added elegance and a formal appeal, choose aisle markers of driftwood, high quality silk flowers, grass, seashells or lanterns with candles or flowers. And, of course, there is no better backdrop than nature’s glorious tropical blue waters lapping the sugary white sand. To learn more visit affordablebeachwedding.com or call 386-279-1179.

Who and What Is Behind Affordable Beach Wedding?

One thing is for certain, you definitely want to make sure Eva Mullins of Affordable Beach Wedding makes your wedding invite list. Aside from spearheading Central Florida’s premier beach wedding company and creating weddings of dreams time and time again, Eva Mullins is salon owner and a master hair stylist who specializes in special occasion hair…and Eva has the experience to make your wedding perfect, easy and affordable to you.

When you work with Affordable Beach Wedding, there is also an extensive array of wedding services at your fingertips:

  • Need music? A state-of-the-art PA system will broadcast your wedding playlist. 
  • Want expressive, profound vows? No matter what type you prefer, from traditional, to hand fasting, modern or commitment renewal, Affordable Beach Wedding can help you with them, as well as arrange for a male or female wedding officiant to preside over them. 
  • If you would like photographs or a slideshow to commemorate your special occasion, Affordable Beach Wedding can provide those too.
  • There are also gorgeous wedding decorations to be had, from floral arrangements crafted from the finest silk, to flower petals in the sand, archways, canopies and bridal bouquets.
  • Plus, of course, your wedding hair and make-up!

Affordable Beach Wedding is pleased to serve the entire Central Florida area including beautiful New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Ponce Inlet, Edgewater, Ormond Beach and Sanford.

 

Pros and Cons of a “No Kid Rule”

Children can be a delightful addition to weddings, ergo adorable flower children, ring bearers and little ones dancing with glee. However, kids can also present a certain set of challenges at weddings that grooms- and brides-to-be may not relish. For instance, kids can be unpredictable, causing disturbances at inopportune times; accommodating large families and the toll they can take on your headcount can present financial difficulties; and formal weddings may be far less appropriate for children than more casual daytime ceremonies. 

Just keep in mind that whether or not children are invited to attend your wedding ceremony is a topic that can be very divisive. In fact, some may assume children should always be invited and consider it impolite not to invite their children, some parents may need to leave early and some may opt not to attend your wedding at all. So, whatever you decide, it is always a good idea to tread lightly. 

If in fact you do decide not to include children, some of the ways you can word your wedding invitation so as not to ruffle too many feathers, might include: “Due to the guest limit…,””We apologize that we cannot accommodate children at our wedding,” and if you happen to be lucky enough to place the blame elsewhere, “Due to the restrictions of our venue…” 

You also have the option not to entirely exclude children from your wedding, instead placing certain limits on your inclusion of children, such as an adults only ceremony or reception; or choose to make some exceptions such as only inviting the children of people within your wedding party or your nieces and nephews. 

Other options include organizing childcare or paying for babysitters if you opt not to include kids at all. Or, you could decide to invite children and include a child’s menu and entertainment for kids.

The bottom line with a “no children” rule at your wedding is much like everything else on your special day. Your wedding is your day and you have the final say.

No Phone Rulev

Your wedding day is one of the (if not THE) most important occasions of your life. So, it’s not too much to ask that your guests pay attention as you make your way down the aisle and exchange your vows. Not to mention the fact that a no phone rule at your wedding would prevent any buzzes, beeps or rings that might interrupt your nuptials.

Plus, who wants candid shots or video footage showing tons of people with their faces glued to their cell screens? Additionally, if your guests decide that they want to take photos or video of your wedding ceremony and they hold their phones in the air, your own photographer may not have a clear shot…and if they do, those shots may be peppered with a bunch of people holding up phones in the background. Ugh!

Besides all that, the unhealthy attachment to our electronics that we have developed inhibits us, robbing us of the ability to just cut loose and have some fun – which is exactly what wedding receptions are for. That no phone rule may even allow you to have more fun at your reception, as you won’t be interrupted umpteen times for selfies.

Whatever you decide, just remember that your wedding day is your day. So, no one can blame you for wanting to do it your way…and if that happens to be with or without cellphones, live streams and/or aerial drones, so be it!

Not Just the Beach – We Set up in Backyards or Gardens too!

Yes, of course Affordable Beach Wedding specializes in unforgettable beach weddings, with a majestic ocean venue that is hard to beat, but we can also create a beautiful backyard or garden wedding too. Backyards and gardens in Florida are gloriously brimming with tropical plants and colorful hues that can make you feel like you are in an exotic destination – also absolutely perfect places for a lovely wedding ceremony.

Have you ever been to a garden party where the women are sipping mimosas and wearing flowy summer dresses; guest tables are nestled within fragrant landscaping in full bloom, under chandeliers with votive candles that flicker in the moonlight; and guests are serenaded by flutes or violins? It’s reminiscent of what dreams are made of… a true fantasy come to life. Maybe there is even a meandering garden path lined in lanterns which leads the bride and groom to an archway dripping with cascading flowers where they will exchange their vows. 

Garden, backyard and beach weddings are also a wonderful idea for budget conscious wedding couples because, although they can be everything you ever hoped your wedding could be, they can also be as affordable as you need them to be. And don’t forget that whatever type of wedding you choose, when it is a destination wedding in the Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach or Ponce Inlet area, you have an amazing honeymoon already in place, as well as a memorable vacation for all of your guests

For more information on how to create the perfect backyard or garden wedding, contact Affordable Beach Wedding, Central Florida’s premier beach wedding company by calling 386-428-0777 or 386-279-1179.

 

Hair Up or Down – Which Is for You?

An elegant up-do with cascading tendrils to add romantic appeal or thick, lush, sexy hair left long and down…which is the right style for your wedding day? The way a bride looks is one of the most important decisions of her wedding day, so what will it be?

It really depends on you! You may decide that you want your wedding photos to reflect the real you, which may mean that you prefer to wear your hair down, the way you normally do. Or, since this will be one of the most important days of your life, you may want to dress things up, opting for an extravagant up-do.

Regardless, one thing you want to ensure is that your wedding day hairstyle will stand the test of time, looking beautiful throughout the ceremony as well as the reception…and here in Florida, that can be challenging. We have heat, humidity and, if it is a beach wedding, there will likely be a breeze. That doesn’t even account for all of those tight hugs you will receive from your most treasured friends and family on that receiving line!

So is it better for you to leave your hair down to blow in the breeze? It may be if your style of choice is beachy waves or if your hair tends to hold its shape well. Or maybe, if it is a formal affair, you might choose a more contemporary, slick up-do as opposed to an up-do that may come undone.

A combination of the two – which might be straight down with your hair pinned back under the veil at the sides; a low, dressy bun; or a braid weaved into soft sweeps held in place with a gorgeous hair accessory – all can be breathtaking.

What it really comes down to is your preference, the type of wedding you’re having (casual vs. formal) and what type of magic your professional hair stylist can work for you.