Tariq & Camille- Fort Myers, Florida

Have you heard of La Casa Toscana?

It’s a BRAND new venue in Fort Myers, FL. We are so excited to be opening this space to the public.

This venue has been a private event venue for the owner’s children. We had the pleasure to not only plan Tariq & Camille’s wedding this winter in Fort Myers, Florida but also Tariq’s older sisters wedding a few years ago.

LOVE STORY

A few years ago, we were hired to plan Tariq’s older sister’s wedding at the same location. This event was breathtaking. So, after Tariq and Camille got engaged, we knew this was going to be an unforgettable event!

Camille got a message from Tariq’s sister on Instagram. This was a SET UP! Niza has been following Camille online and knew she was just the kind of person her brother needed. So, after an online introduction the two decided to meet.

A BLIND DATE

Tariq was living in Florida and Camille in Virginia. The long distance did not stop them! After their first date they knew that this was something different.

It wasn’t long until they were engaged and planning their event at La Casa Toscana.

Their ceremony was outdoor under the gazebo on property. They chose dark brown chairs to contrast the beautiful whites and blushes tones of the wedding.

COCKTAILS & DINNER

The ceremony was followed by a cocktail hour on the lawn. The guest’s then moved to the dinner where they ate under the verandas and danced under the stars.

DANCING

Tariq & Camille’s wedding day was one of the best events we have had the pleasure to be a part of. This event was filled so many languages! French & Spanish were spoken more than English and we could not have been happier see such a blend of cultures.

The love between the couple and their families was evident in every conversation. Both families wanted to honor their faith and belief in God and the love they showed every single vendor and guest is something everyone could feel. What a beautiful event.

After all these years and experiencing this amazing family, how they treat everyone no matter what. We are so excited that this beautiful space is now available to the public!

What a GEM this is to everyone who gets the pleasure of coming into contact with it.

Contributors

VIDEOGRAPHER

Diego Stuart Films

PHOTOGRAPHER

Hunter Ryan Photography

VENUE

La Casa Toscana

FLOWERS

Leroy French Flowers

RENTALS + DECOR

Taylor Rentals

ENTERTAINMENT

DJ Gil Blake

WEDDING CAKE

In Love & Food

WEDDING PLANNER

Mostly Becky Weddings & Events

FAVORS + GIFTS

Le Macaron

HONEYMOON

The Cove

CATERER

Friscos

And this GORGEOUS wedding was PUBLISHED in SOUTHERN BRIDE! We couldn’t be more excited to share it with you all!

You've hired a wedding planner- What happens now?

You've heard it, hire a wedding planner.

Okay, so then what happens next? We wanted to help you know what to expect from your wedding planner, how to see the difference in a quality & experienced wedding professional compared to someone else on the market. 

They will be responsive to your needs. 

Any wedding professional who has quality experience will work with you. They know enough of the industry to be of help. In conversation with them you will hear their experiences in stories and tips. If your wedding professional is limiting times spent with them, limiting questions, or not offering reviews from trusted sources, be weary. 

Image by: Aly Carrol Photography

Their experience will overflow into conversations. 

Always speak to the wedding planner you are interested in hiring. Websites can be made beautiful, Instagram, and online imagery can be easily persuasive. But, a wedding planner is much more than just pretty pictures! They should be a sounding board for all questions you have. When you ask, their experience should overflow into conversations. And the lessons they have learned along the way are to your benefit. If you are speaking to a wedding planner you like and questions are raised, but no real life examples can be given. I would keep looking!

Image by: Brian Davis Photography

They will be your guide.

Each wedding planner will have their own style. But, they should lead the way. Getting you to the next step. Even if they are NOT a full-service company. A experienced and great wedding planner will be someone who can tell you what to do next, give you estimates on how long things should take, and follow up with you to make sure you are staying on track. If you hire a wedding planner and never hear from them. Think again! 

Image by: Alexander Michl Photography

They will tell you what to expect from other wedding vendors.

No matter if you are looking for vendors or working with ones you've already booked. A good wedding planner should be able to help you navigate what to expect from each of them. If you have questions or concerns with any wedding vendor your planner should know how to handle approach each situation. They will understand the market values and trends and be able to work with you to find or coordinate with each of them. If your wedding planner is not your biggest advocate, find someone who is!

Image by: Brooke Pavel

They will work well with anyone. 

A good wedding planner will always carry themselves with poise. They will first off always respect your wishes, but will easily work well with everyone else involved in your wedding. Including, your one uncle, yeah you know the one. They understand that during this wedding event there are a lot of moving parts, wonderful people, and so many things to get done. They will know how to get the job done and respect the professionalism of each vendor and all your loved ones. If your planner is not getting along with others, I would take this as warning and run! 

Image by: Aly Carrol Photography

Wendi & Matt Omaha, Nebraska

Happy 1st Anniversary! 

Wow! How time flies! This is such an exciting post to share with you! Wendi & Matt were married in August last year in Omaha, Nebraska. Not only was their venue stunning, but their day was one I will never forget. Let me tell you why. 

I met Wendi in 1st grade. Going to a small private elementary school, Wendi and I did pretty much everything together. Beyond the classroom, sports, and all the extracurricular activities. Wendi and I were both farm girls. Little did I know then, but I believe this was one small fact was a big reason why the two of us remained friends even when high school separated us. Wendi and I continued to go to youth group together and in high school is when we bonded in a way that I cannot express. It is not common to find a friend that will stick through every single stage of life a true testament  our mutual faith in Jesus. But, with Wendi I have. A true blessing from the Lord! 

Wendi and I have done everything together since. After 8th grade graduation, we graduated high school the same year. Then community college together, after community college we both moved to Florida to complete our bachelor's degree. I then convinced Wendi to get a double major so we could both graduate with our bachelor's together!  4 milestones of graduations, we shared. Not long after the biggest blessing of all joined our duo. Hayden James. The absolute cutest boy you will ever meet! Hayden was born in September, and is almost 5 years old today! Every second I spend with him is one I cherish. He blesses me in so many ways, I could not be luckier to get the opportunity to love him. But, the Lord knew we weren't done adding to our family. 

I will never forget the day Wendi called me to tell me about her new boyfriend. Her words "Becky, he is different." At that moment, I knew our lives had changed forever. Not long after I got the opportunity to meet Matt, and it was easy to see how they felt about one another. As a best friend, who has been around for EVERY SINGLE BOYFRIEND, it is a precious thing to watch someone you love so deeply fall in love, with the one.

I am so blessed to call her my best friend for 20 years! I never imagined I would get to be apart of her big day in this way. It was so much more than a wedding. It was a true celebration. Welcome to the family Matt! xoxo

There I am with my beautiful sisters!

Venue: The Living Room- Omaha, NE

Photographer: Brooke Pavel Photography Des Moines, IA

Design and Planning: Mostly Becky Weddings & Events