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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Charles Edison and Carolyn Hawkins Wedding at the Edison Winter Home in 1918

by Rebecca Jones, Collections Information Specialist 

Fort Myers, FL March 1918 –  During the spring of 1918, Charles Edison, son of Thomas and Mina Edison, came to the family estate in Fort Myers for a much-needed rest.  America was in the midst of World War I, and the Edison family was deeply involved on the home front.  While Thomas Edison conducted experimental work for the Naval Consulting Board on a ship off the coast of Key West, youngest son Theodore was stationed on an uninhabited island, working away at a technical invention designed for use in trench warfare.  Charles took on the responsibility of running the myriad Edison Industries during his father’s absence, quite an undertaking for a young man 27 years old.

During that time, Charles’ sweetheart of six years, Carolyn Hawkins, worked long hours assisting medical staff at Harvard University in preparing for oversees deployment at an army hospital.  Charles asked his mother Mina if she would mind inviting Carolyn to accompany him to their winter home and get away from the hustle and bustle of wartime work.  Mina agreed and the young couple arrived in Fort Myers at the end of March 1918.

On a moonlit night at the end of the Seminole Lodge dock overlooking the Caloosahatchee, Charles proposed to Carolyn by asking her, “Do you want a large wedding?” Apparently she didn’t, so the two decided to be married right away in Florida.  Once they received Mina’s blessing, telegrams were sent to family members announcing their plans.  Thomas Edison wired back, “If you have decided it must be done, then the sooner it is done the better.  It can’t be any worse than life in front line trenches. Impossible for Theodore or myself to come.”

Once Thomas Edison’s blessing was secured, Carolyn purchased a white gown and flowers and the couple went downtown to get their marriage license.  Many years later, Charles recalled acquiring the license with some amusement: “The night before Carolyn and I had attended a dance.  There was a young man there who took a shine to Carolyn.  He wanted to call on her.  When we went to get the license, who should be the official to issue it but this same young man.  Flabbergasted, he counted himself out of the running right then and there.”

On March 27, 1918, Charles and Carolyn Edison were married in the Seminole Lodge gardens in front of a camphor tree and a cinnamon tree with a large Japanese umbrella tree serving as a backdrop.  A rug was rolled out from the house to a small altar lit with candles.  Mina Edison gave the bride away while two household staff members served as witnesses.  According to Charles, “Carolyn was as nervous as if the ceremony were being held in a cathedral.”

The wedding made front page news in the Fort Myers Press the next morning, wherein it was noted, “The marriage took place in the favorite spot of Thomas A. Edison.  Under the palms and surrounded by the tropical foliage of Seminole Lodge, the place he loves best and where he throws aside his work and really plays.”

After the ceremony ended, the newlyweds decided to take a “honeymoon” and packed sandwiches up for a drive to the beach in the now-famous Model T given by Henry Ford to Thomas Edison in 1914.  The couple planned to drive down to the Gulf of Mexico and catch a few fish to eat for supper back at Seminole Lodge.  Unfortunately, the mosquitoes were too thick to enjoy the beach, so the newlyweds decided to celebrate with an impromptu chocolate ice cream soda at Hunter’s Drugstore in Fort Myers.  Charles remembered, “That was our honeymoon.”

Charles and Carolyn Edison were married for 45 years and visited the Edison Winter Estate in Fort Myers frequently.

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Timeless Wedding at Historic Home: Haley & David

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.

The couple’s happiness is reflected in the pool at the Moonlight Garden.

A special moment is captured in the Model T’s side mirror.

The couple pose next to their getaway car.

The couple steal away in an authentic 1926 Model T.

The newlywed couple takes a minute to wave goodbye before taking off in their antique getaway.

David and Haley walk down the Royal Palm Allee, newly wed.

The couple chose a sand ceremony with purple & black sand to symbolize their union.

The brides bouquet of hydrangeas, roses, and calla lilies was adorned with a long string of pearls.

The flower girl raced the bagpiper down the aisle!

Roses, lilies, and hydrangeas decorated the ceremony space.

Hydrangea balls on shepherds hooks decked the aisle between the palms in the Royal Palm Allee.

The groomsmen wore long coats and wide purple ties, reflecting the era of the historic Estates.

Bridesmaids wore beautiful, long purple gowns – each a little different than the other.

Ceremony Location: Edison & Ford Winter Estates / 239.334.7419 / www.efwefla.org/wedding.asp / info@efwefla.org

Photography: Images Wedding Photography / 239.283.9811 / www.imagesweddingphotography.com / jdean0001@hotmail.com

Chairs & Columns: Creative Events & Rentals / 239.786.6393 / www.creativeevents1.com / info@creativeevents1.com

Flowers: Cape Coral Floral Design / 239.772.3377 / www.capeflorist.com / info@capeflorist.com

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

Music: Hugh the Bagpiper / 239.440.7257 / www.hughthebagpiper.com / info@hughthebagpiper.com

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