Dinner for Two: Mara & Scott’s Wedding | Fort Myers Wedding Venue

Mara & Scott met 11 years ago in the Army at Fort Riley,Kansas, where Mara was a MEDEVAC Blackhawk Helicopter Crewchief and Scott was a pilot. Back then, they were strictly friends.

After the Army, they still managed to keep in touch as life took them on different paths.  When business brought Scott toFlorida last February, he caught up with his old friend Mara.

Mara & Scott had a ‘first glimpse” of each other before the wedding which allowed them to take lots of photos early.

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Their Wedding Their Way: Amber & Kyle | Outdoor Florida Wedding Venue

Fort Myers natives, Amber & Kyle, wanted their wedding to be a reflection of themselves, and that’s exactly what they got.  Last weekend, they were married in the Royal Palm Allee at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates and the event was anything but ordinary.  Matt Steeves blew us away with these incredible photographs.

Amber got ready at her sister’s house.

Our bride waited anxiously for her groom in Edison’s Caretaker’s House.

Before the wedding, Amber and Kyle had a private “first glimpse” of one another in Mina’s Moonlight Garden.

Amber, with her three bridesmaids and two junior bridesmaids, posed for a photo in front of the pergola that bridges Edison’s main house and guest house.

We LOVE this photo with the entire bridal party squeezing in. We especially love the ‘groomsmaid’ on the far right!

One of the romantic touches of their ceremony was when Kyle walked back down the aisle to meet Amber and walk her the rest of the way.

A twist on the wine ceremony – Patron ceremony! After reading the vows they wrote to one another, Amber & Kyle sealed them & placed them into a box of Patron Tequila. The officiant said, “If you ever find your marriage is facing hard times, do the following: open this box, read your vows, and take a shot. If you haven’t opened it by your fifth anniversary, open it to celebrate!”

Once the photos were finished, our couple toasted one another and invited their guests to watch the sunset on the Ford Riverside Lawn before heading over to the reception.

The ‘icing on the cake’ was really the custom made clay cake topper depicting the couple and their three dogs.

The reception was held at the Edison Restaurant’s back patio and bar and more closely resembled the best party ever than a wedding reception.  There were no formal seating arrangements, no sit-down dinner.   Heavy hors d’oeuvres were served, including hand-passed corndogs and hamburger sliders.  Amber & Kyle shared their first dance on the golf course green (Amber was barefoot).  At one point, I heard Amber shouting, “Best wedding EVER!”  I’m not sure there could have been a wedding more perfectly suited for these two. 

Wedding Ceremony Location: Edison & Ford Winter Estates / 239.334.7419 / http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/weddings-receptions / weddings@edisonfordwinterestates.org

Wedding Photography: Matt Steeves Photography / 239.246.1707 / www.mattsteeves.com / mattsteeves@me.com

Wedding Flowers: Fort Myers Florist / 239.931.0506

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Destination Florida: Amanda & Scott’s Wedding | Destination Weddings Venue

Colorado couple, Amanda and Scott, opted for a destination wedding at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers this past August.  With only one bridesmaid, one groomsman, and two guests, the event was as intimate as they come.

In an effort to dodge the afternoon storms that are so prevalent during the Florida summer, the wedding ceremony was held at 11am in the Royal Palm Allee on the Ford Property.  Though the wedding was small, the details were almost as beautiful as the bride.  After vows were made, rings exchanged, and photos taken, the group of six went out for wedding brunch!  Amanda and Scott spent their time in Florida exploring the Everglades and the Florida Keys.  Now that’s a destination wedding done right!

Below are some photos taken by Jamie Lee Photography of the wedding day (click photos to enlarge):

Amanda & Scott enjoy a few minutes looking out over the Caloosahatchee River before the midday summer storm rolls in.

The Coconut Grove is a choice location for a clear view of Edison’s Pier and the Caloosahatchee River.

The Roxburgh Fig tree provides a little shade for our love birds on an August afternoon.

Photographer, Jamie Lee did a wonderful color alteration on this photo that gives you a sense of time-gone-by.

Amanda & Scott take cover from the August sun under the vine covered Pergola.

The Edison Guest House is a romantic backdrop in this photo. With 14 ft wrap around verandas and spanish moss hanging overhead, it is the epitome of Old Florida Style.

You can’t have a wedding at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates and miss the opportunity to climb into the Mysore Fig tree!

I am always impressed by the beauty and simplicity of the Royal Palm Allee on the Ford Property.

The intimate wedding ceremony took place under 75 foot colossal trees in the Royal Palm Allee on the Ford Property.

Amanda walked solo (and gracefully, too) from the Ford Home, between two rows of Royal Palms, to meet her future husband, Scott at the end of the aisle.

Before the ceremony begins, Scott and his Best Man chill out on the roots of the Mysore Fig Tree.

Amanda’s maid of honor does the final touches in the Edison Caretaker’s House.

Clockwise from top left: Amanda’s wedding dress, white satin wedding shoes, bridal updo, orange lily boutonniere, matching yellow socks with marlins depicted on the Groom & Best Man, Amanda’s bouquet of orange and yellow calla lilies with seashell detail on the ribbon.

Ceremony & Photo Location: Edison & Ford Winter Estates / 239.334.7419 / http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/weddings-receptions/ weddings@edisonfordwinterestaets.org

Photography: Jamie Lee Photography / 239.872.0419 /www.jamieleephotography.com / sales@jamieleephotography.com

Flowers: Libby’s Flowers / 239.278.1500 /www.libbysflowershop.com / muffy@libbysflowershop.com

Officiant: Greg Sander of Libby’s Flowers / 239.278.1500 /www.libbysflowershop.com / muffy@libbysflowershop.com

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Fort Myers Waterfront Wedding Venue | La Vie En Rose: Virginia & Cameron’s Wedding

When looking through the photos of Virginia and Cameron’s March wedding in the Coconut Grove at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, “Pretty In Pink” is what comes to mind.  There are elements that hint at an “Old Florida” theme and there are even a few references to birds, a play on Cameron’s last name, Byrd.  But the theme most important to the couple when planning their big day was “Fun.” 

Fun is definitely what they got when they hired wedding planners Kristi Edwards and Julie Johnson of Happily Ever After to make their dreams become reality.   Below is the proof  in photos taken by Luminaire Foto.

Click photos to enlarge:

What could be more fun at a wedding reception than a photo booth?

What started off as a sweet slow dance to “Isn’t She Lovely” quickly morphed into a hilarious ensemble including “Walk Like An Egyptian” and “Cotton Eye Joe” (seen here).

Virginia and her dad secretly took dance lessons and performed a choreographed routine to a medley of various tunes.

Mason’s Bakery created a classic white wedding cake adorned with pink roses.

The reception was pretty in pink with orchids, roses, and hydrangea centerpieces topped with jewel draped branches. The brown chivari chairs donned pink sashes and the tables were named after Florida birds.

Virginia and Cameron were whisked away in a 1926 Model T getaway car.

Cameron sweeps Virginia off her feet in front of the Mysore Fig Tree on Henry Ford’s Riverside Lawn.

The Moonlight Garden is especially beautiful in March as the bougainvillea is in full bloom.

Taking advantage of the exotic and oh-so-photogenic trees that populate the Estates, the bridal party is artfully arranged in the Lofty Fig.

Cameron’s groomsmen looked especially dapper with their navy vests and baby blue ties. Their boutonnieres were white roses.

Virginia’s bridesmaids wore strapless knee length dresses in baby blue with ivory sashes. Their bouquets were bright pink and white roses.

Virginia and Cameron chose Edison’s Coconut Grove overlooking the Caloosahatchee River and Thomas Edison’s Pier for their ceremony location.

A throwback to the laid back lifestyle of the old south, the rings were carried in on bamboo cane fishing poles.

White hydrangeas and pink roses were tied to the chairs and the aisle was lined on either side with rose petals.

The pink and orange invitation suite featured tropical frangipani flowers.

It was hard to resist references to our winged friends when the couple’s last name is Byrd.

Virginia’s gifts to her bridesmaids included pink satin robes with the girls initials embroidered, matching flip flops, funky sunglasses, and pearl necklaces.

The girls had a great time goofing off while getting ready at Virginia’s parents’ home.

Ceremony Location: Edison & Ford Winter Estates / 239.334.7419 / http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/weddings-receptions/ / weddings@edisonfordwinterestates.org

Ceremony Chairs: Creative Events & Rentals / 239.768.6393 / www.creativeevents1.com / info@creativeevents1.com

Flowers: Libby’s Flowers / 239.278.1500 / www.libbysflowershop.com / muffy@libbysflowershop.com

Transportation: Model T Chauffeur Services / 239.694.3969 / www.modeltchauffeur.com / info@modeltchauffeur.com

Wedding Planning: Happily Ever After / 239.433.4625 / www.happilyeverafter4u.com / happilyeverafter4u@comcast.net

Photography: Luminaire Foto / 239.848.8926 / www.luminairefoto.com / karl@luminairefoto.com

Reception Location: The Edison Restaurant / 239.936.9348 / www.edisonfl.com / liana@edisonfl.com

Wedding Cake: Mason’s Bakery / 239.334.4525 / www.masonsbakery.com / chrisk@masonsbakery.com

Invitations: The Paper Mill / 239.437.2252 / www.thepapermill-florida.net / loveis@thepapermill-florida.net

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