Chic Parisien bride Amanda in Berta
Tell us your love story! How did you meet and how did you get to a proposal?
Tyler and I met in high school and started dating senior year. We both attended FGCU together and graduated with our master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Tyler proposed to me at the Biltmore Estates in Asheville, North Carolina March 2020.
When you started planning your wedding what did you envision? How close did the actual wedding get to that vision?
We started planning the wedding right after we got engaged but then Covid happened. We decided to set our wedding date two years in advance to hopefully not have any issues with Covid. We decided on October 15th 2022 which would be our 8 year anniversary that happened to also fall on a Saturday which was perfect. I am a type-A bride and did everything in advance. I envisioned our wedding at a golf club getting married outside. Unexpectedly, Hurricane Ian hit SWFL two weeks before our wedding in Fort Myers. Our venue unfortunately was unable to host our wedding and we had to scramble to find a venue a week before our date. We luckily had our wedding at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples on our original date and it was more perfect than what I had been planning.
What were a few things that were important to you as a couple to include (or not include) in the wedding?
It was important for us to have our first look to be private to share that special moment together. The wedding day was very busy and we wanted to make sure we have time by ourselves during the course of the event.
How did you decide on the location?
We decided to get married in SWFL since we moved here for college 7 years ago and have a lot of memories here.
Let's talk dress! Give us all the deets!
I absolutely adore my wedding dress. I have had my eye on Berta dresses for so many years. My sister actually found the dress I ended up choosing back in 2020 on Instagram. I tried it on and everyone started crying. I love the floral details, pearls, and stones. I also decided to go with a cape instead of a veil and i’m so glad I did.
How did your family, friends, etc play into your wedding planning and wedding day?
I am a type A bride and wanted to plan everything by myself. After the hurricane and the change in venue last minute, my family stepped in to help which I am thankful for. It helped me let go of total control and to trust the process.
What's one specific memory you have from your wedding day that you don't think you'll ever forget?
I will never forget walking down the aisle and not noticing anyone except for my husband. We had been waiting for that moment since we were both 17 years old. We wrote our own vows so it was really special to share that with each other in front of our friends and family.
How did you decide on your hair and makeup look?
I wanted to look like royalty on my wedding day. I decided to go with a classic bun with old Hollywood curls. I also decided to wear a crown which really put my look together. I also wanted to have dramatic makeup rather than the traditional soft glam bridal look.
Was there one vendor you used that you wish everyone knew about?
My florist was amazing. She did all of the ceiling installations that completely transformed the room and added hundreds of flowers last minute for the wedding.
Where did you go on your honeymoon and what was the best part?
We went to St. Helena Napa Valley California. We stayed at the Alila Hotel which was amazing. Our balcony overlooked the vinyard and had a private fir pit and the hotel gave us champange every night. My favorite part was driving up the valley on the scenic route and seeing all the beautfil vinyards.