Summer + Mark

How did you meet?

We grew up in the same neighbourhood and knew who each other were, but never crossed paths enough to become close friends. I went to California after high school where I ended up having a baby. My 5 month old son and I visited Florida in march of 2020, but ended up getting stuck here right when Covid blew up. Mark was landscaping my parents new house where I was staying, and we just saw each other in passing for a couple weeks before he asked me out.

When did you know they were the one?

When he asked me out for a date and I actually friend-zoned him. I told him I’d still go, but I wanted to be clear up front. I almost cancelled because I wasn’t in the mood to carry a conversation or make small talk. I honestly thought he was quiet and kind of shy. He was really cool and I had a great time. I invited him to hang out for the 4th of July the next day and I’m so glad he came. We hung out every day since and moved in together 2 weeks later. I think I knew after a week when we said “I love you” that he was the one.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

Loyalty: He is more like a dog than a person. He is so loyal and doesn’t care what other people think when it comes to having my back.
Hard work ethic: He has his own landscaping company and works 12 hour days out in the Florida heat. When he comes home, I’m always blown away that he still has more of himself to give. It seems effortless.
Simplicity: What you see is what you get. I never had to wonder what was “actually” going on in his head. There were no games, and no avoiding any conversations. I felt like I knew him instantly. We both have bold personalities, but we’re very direct and able to communicate well with each other.

Who proposed and how?

It was march of 2022 – peak spring break season in our little beach town. We wanted to go on a date night, so my parents were babysitting my son. We did that occasionally so I didn’t think anything of it. The plan was to watch the sunset on a less crowded beach we know of, then go get dinner and drinks. Mark proposed at the beach, then instead of dinner and drinks, he told me that his family was with mine at my parents house. We had charcuterie and champagne, and my son had flowers for me!

Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?

My friend got married almost exactly a year before I did. She had told me about MWL while she was planning her wedding. I guess she saw the designer and told me it looked like my style. She was spot on. When the time came, it was hard to pick a dress, but I thought maybe Remi would look best on me. I had to try her on, so I looked up retailers near me. There were only 2 driving distance. Malindy bridal boutique in Tampa, FL is where I went. I tried on Remi first and immediately knew she was the one. She was so flattering. Not too deep of a V, but also not too conservative of a neckline. It was just perfect, and so supportive. The shape seemed like it was made for me. The train was gorgeous, and the 3d lace was the perfect amount of detail without looking overdone or like your typical lace dress. The girls with me were in love and laughed that of course it was the one I picked online. It was a very easy decision!

What was the best moment for you at your wedding?

We eloped and honeymooned in Moab, UT before having a big reception in our hometown. The whole trip was so special. My pastor from California traveled to officiate the ceremony, and another friend from California came as our photographer. Having people we knew and trusted meant a lot. It made the whole thing very intimate. The location was breathtaking, Scott’s ceremony was beautiful, and we said our vows, but when it was time to kiss the bride, Mark had tears in his eyes. I didn’t expect it. He’s not normally emotional, so to see him like that was very special.
And my favorite part about our beach reception was getting to tell our guests that Mark was in the process of adopting my son! Everyone was in tears. It was the best surprise ever.

What were your favourite details?

My favorite wedding details would have to be my dress, the table at our reception with all of our pictures from Utah for friends and family to see for the first time, and the fact that I did my own hair and makeup in Utah. I’m really happy to look back and see everything in a simple and authentic way.

What advice would you tell other brides?

I’d say first figure out what’s most important to you two, then think of ways to make it special for friends/family. We could’ve just eloped and saved money, but it is important for them too. I realize that even more now that it’s done. The traditional wedding day takes lots of planning. I’ve heard brides say they can’t wait for it to be over, or don’t even enjoy it because it’s so busy and exhausting. And it is. Plus there’s so many “shoulds” and family dynamics can sometimes be complicated. I would obviously advise everyone to do what we did, but just do whatever you need to do to create that special, heart-filling moment with your fiancé. It’s your beginning, and that is what you’ll remember.

Any standout vendors?

My friend, Joe who was our photographer in Utah blew me away! I knew he was good and obviously I had seen his portfolio, but I hadn’t personally worked with him before. I’ve done other photo shoots in the past, but his talent and professionalism was just so many levels above what’s typical. He knew the best angles and captured them quickly. He saw creative opportunities that I couldn’t see in the moment, but turned out stunning. And even though we were friends, he made sure everything was just about me and Mark, and that made it even more special. And you could see how excited he was to be there. He definitely loves what he does. He got along with the whole group and added so much to our experience.
Back in Florida, beach weddings are not typical for locals. We often seen them done as a tacky tourist thing. Most locals choose a rustic barn style a little bit inland. We realized that the beach is taken for granted and thought we could do it in an elegant way. All we wanted was a big tent, good food, and an open bar to celebrate with our friends and family. There are beach hotels and other “actual” venues, but it seemed too complicated. We were feeling a little discouraged. We didn’t even realize Sand Key Park did weddings. It looked simple enough to build on, so that’s what we did. We planned everything, designed and decorated ourselves, borrowed materials from family, and booked our other few vendors. We weren’t sure how much to expect from Sand Key, but they wowed us the most. The staff was SO nice, the food was incredible, and the day-of coordinator they provided was kind and professional. It was a fantastic night. None of our guests knew what to expect because they hadn’t been to a beach wedding, maybe ever, but we heard so many people say it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to. We owe it to Sand Key Park – it felt like a beautiful, formal wedding, yet we could relax and actually enjoy the night with everyone.