Billy and Brenna’s Heartfelt and Warm DIY Florida Wedding by Ally Frances Photo

Give me a Grace loves lace dress and I’m a happy girl! and the same can be said for Brenna, today’s beautiful bride who chose the most gorgeous Grace Loves Lace dress for her wedding last year in Florida. Brenna and Billy chose a venue right next to the water with great views of the boats, as well as the ability to run the wedding on their own terms, brining in DIY elements as well as choosing their own suppliers and putting their own stamp on their day. A beautiful day, captured perfectly for us by Ally Frances Photo.

Heartfelt and warm, filled with love. That love where you can take a step back and look around the room and just smile. That love where you see your old friends talking with your grandma and your new friends laughing with your husband’s old friends. That big community of your past and his past mixing and blending with both of your future’s in a big community of love and support for you and the family you are creating together in this lifelong walk of love.

Brenna and Billy were married on 2nd December 2023 at The Poynter Institute in in St. Petersburg, Florida‘ The unique venue-oak wood and location by the Ocean with boats next to it but also close to downtown-easily walkable and trolley to take for guests. I wanted a venue with the reception and ceremony next to each other because I felt at some weddings you lose so much time traveling from one place to the next. This venue was affordable because it was a college writing center originally, and had absolutely stunning views of the ocean and water. It was also a DIY where I could bring my own style and ideas to it. We had 140 guests and it took 9 months to plan.’ 

How they met 
From Salem to St. Pete 9 years later… From their first date at an Italian restaurant to their first meal as a married couple at Poynter Institute. When they’re not taking rides in the jeep, or on the motorcycle, find them swimming, skiing and traveling. Talk about an adventurous couple. On any random day, they may be calling each other “blueberry muffin” or “toaster strudel.” Other days, they may say to each other, “butter biscuit” or “pizza pie. It’s their love language… which may or may not be based on a love of eating.

The proposal
The proposal was very simple! It was long expected as we had been dating for 9 years. Billy wanted to
surprise Brenna which can be a hard thing to do! She knew it would be before her Brother’s wedding which was fast approaching. She was out for an evening walk on a random Wednesday at her favourite
spot down by the Ocean dock. He got on the moped to come visit her. He was going to do it there but she instead hopped on the back of the moped and said “Let’s go!” The ring was in his pocket and he was very nervous that she was going to feel it as her hands were around his waist. He asked “where to?” And she said “let’s go home!” So off they went into the sunset and arrived home. Brenna made a yummy haddock dinner and they ate out on the patio with string lights and the gas firepit- something they don’t too often do. Brenna was extremely surprised when Billy got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. It was very sweet and intimate.

How did you allocate your budget?
Oof! Not well haha! Started with the Venue and then the catering/food and then alcohol/bartending services and so on from there. Tried to do one thing at a time so I was not overwhelmed because it can be a very overwhelming process!

Where did you splurge and where did you save?
Splurged on the best photographer ever.
Saved on Venue and do it yourself mentality. Saved on flowers by re-using the arch decor
for tables and bridal party flowers for tables.

How did you choose your photographer?
She did my friend Kara’s photo’s recently and they are the greatest I’ve ever seen! So incredible! Because we saw her photos and were absolutely blown away with her art and the way she captured everyone’s sweet smiling faces and the true authenticity and joy of the day.

The dress
Grace loves lace! Loved my sparkly shoes and my lace but fitted dress

The suit and bridesmaids
The bridesmaids chose their dresses from all over. Their only instruction was gold champagne
colour. They all looked amazing and did great! The suit was black from men’s wearhouse. The groomsmen wore all black and we joked about my “Golden Girls” and his “Men in Black”

Theme or colour scheme
Golden and light yellow tones for the bridesmaids dresses. White flowers with greenery. -Natural- nature

Flowers
Baby’s breath, white roses, greenery. Loved my floral crown that I wore at the reception. Made me feel like a princess!

Decoration 
The venue was old wooden vibe so we did not need extra decor because the venue was so beautiful in itself. We lined the tables with green garland and candles. We had white flowers. I had a flower crown with white flowers. Then we had green chairs to match.

Food
Italian buffet from a local delicious family owned Italian restaurant called De Sesto in Saint
Petersburg FL. The staff were fantastic and the food was spectacular- lasagna, chicken parm,
shrimp scampi, pesto pasta, salad, bread.

Wedding cake
Nothing Bundt Cakes- mini and perfect for popping in your mouth without a mess! Moist and everyone loved them!

Entertainment
Graingertainment- excellent DJ Nick

Who supplied the stationery?
Stephanie Johnson- Astonishing Events

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Costa Rica

Personal touches
A vinyl that guests could sign, a personal photo collage, local honey as guests favours from our photographer’s dad’s bees from New Jersey, a mistletoe for us since it was near Christmas, at each table a photo of Billy and I from different ages (for example, when we were 1, 5, 9 and different years of life), a special koozie for drinks for guests with our names on it

Special moments
My mom read a poem that I wrote about the journey of growing with a partner at our ceremony. My
cousin married us. My baby nephew walked down the aisle with my sister in law. So many people flew in from out of town from CA, Boston to FL and were so excited to be there in December- awesome high
energy. So much love and family together! I sat all the families together at dinner which I loved. Near the end of the mother son dance i had all of the sons invite their mother’s to the dance floor (there were many mother-son combos which was so lovely) and lots of tears then- pure love. Threw my flowers over the top balcony of the wood arches- hit the ceiling the first time LOL so my brother threw them back up! And then we threw all of my bridesmaids flowers which was so fun- to the song “I am Woman” which is so empowering to me for all my strong fearless woman warriors. My grandparents dance to their wedding song as it was their 60th wedding anniversary. Loved the walk outs for the wedding party! Had the large staircase decorated in garland and lights since it was christmas time and each pair came down the long winding staircase to a song that they had chosen and planned a little dance to. Even our parents did it which was so special. Some of then handed out jello shots while others did a sunglass swap and another pair popped gold confetti over the dance floor. It was truly thought out and fun and awesome to watch!

Advice for other couples
ONE THING AT A TIME
Pick one thing. Venue. Only focus on venues. Then caterer- only focus on caterer. When your mother in law comes to you with 50 ideas and questions about flowers, alcohol, plates, napkins,
weather, dress, ect!! Say No! I am on caterer for this week and next week and that is all I can talk
to you about right now. That helped me so much!
Also find one or two people that are in your corner. Sometimes too many cooks in the kitchen can get overwhelming and feel like more work. I had my mother in law and one of my maids of honour and they were my go-to-get it done- girls. Also it’s okay to ask your wedding party for help.
Assign one person to look up caterers and then go through that narrowed down list-etc. That
helped!
Also I would say first try and sit with yourself and truly picture your day and what is important to you. Where are you? What’s the scenery? Who is there? This social media/ technology world can be super overwhelming and if you scroll too much you may feel completely overwhelmed and lost before you even begin! Try and picture each category of what you want before you look up inspo so that you don’t get lost in the trend or what everyone else is doing and have a day that you pictured as a little girl and that is truly important to you. Sit and hear yourself first because otherwise the outside noise will drown out your vision!

Biggest surprise
Our dear friend- one of my husbands very best friends from growing up- could not make the wedding day because he was deployed over seas. My maid of honour set up with the DJ for a speech that he wrote for us to come on over the surround sound after the wedding party speeches concluded. His charismatic, hilarious voice suddenly popped up over the speakers and I began balling! It was so heartfelt and wonderful and so many were in tears. They had a huge cardboard cut out of him also standing at the front table in a suit that his wife who was there then danced with all night long.

Supplier Shout Outs

• Photographer: Ally Frances Photo
• Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes St. Pete
• DJ: Graingertainment
• Caterer: Da Sesto Italiano
• Coordinator: Stephanie with Astonishing Events
• Bartender: Tipsy Daisy
• Florist: Flor and Palma
• Videographer: Ra Media

Ally Frances 

www.allyfrances.com /  www.allyfrances.com/blog / [email protected] / Phone: (772) 267-1233 / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / PINTEREST 

I am now based in Michigan, USA and I also book work in NJ, USA. My slogan is, “For adventurous & free spirited couples. Celebrating your incredible love story with a vintage feel” My ultimate goal with my photo experience is COMFORT. When you work with me, I want you to feel like your true self, and I want to capture that authentically.