A Perfect Spring Florida Wedding Featuring The Gammells

Portfolio
Written By Natalie Davis

One thing that I really pride myself on as a wedding planner is helping couples feel SUPER confident about their wedding day even if we never even meet in person until the big weekend.

While I of course try to meet with all of my couples prior to their wedding, sometimes it doesn’t work out so we rely on Zoom and FaceTime until then!

And that’s exactly what happened with The Gammels!

Taylor and Tyler chose Amelia River Club in Fernandina Beach, Florida for their spring wedding and they wouldn’t be making the drive from Nashville until their April date.

Which meant they put a LOT of trust in me to make sure that all the I’s were dotted and T’s were crossed from beginning to end. And that’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

I am always so honored to be a part of such big events in people's lives and I have the most fun planning and coordinating special days. This one was no different!

A month prior to the wedding, we did a venue walkthrough on FaceTime to ensure that it checked all of their boxes and we could plan all of the specifics of their big day.

Wedding weekend kicked off on Friday as vendors started to make their arrivals to prepare for the big day. Saturday morning, Curl.Wink.Blush arrived bright and early to start hair and  makeup for the girls while the guys played golf.

During this time, I started to set the tables under the beautifully draped tent that made for the perfect reception location.

All About Events set up the dance floor, backdrop, sitting area and popcorn machine, while Sippin Pretty On Wheels was preparing the beverages that would be served for the evening in addition to the coolest champagne wall.

That’s one thing that I loved so much about Taylor and Tyler’s big day – they put so much time and attention into ways to make their day unique and fun for their guests.

From offering popcorn as a late night snack, opting for an appetizer bar during cocktail hour, serving espresso martinis in a unique way, having a “Sip and Solve” crossword puzzle for guests to play, and even giving each guest a lottery ticket at their seat as a way to say “thanks!” they truly thought of it all.

The reason I love this so much is because it’s important to remember that while your wedding is of course about you, it’s also an event for your guests and if you want to ensure that they have fun and don’t just sit in their seats the whole time, it takes some thought and intention.

(If you’re planning a wedding and are looking for ways to ensure that your guests have the MOST fun, click here for a few ideas!)

To complete the decor, Dottie B’s dropped off the florals and set up the arch while Jimbo’s Catering arrived to set up the buffet, just in time for Margaret Elizabeth Photography to arrive and start taking her breathtaking photos!

After a full morning of preparing for the big event, Blue Sky of Amelia Luxury Transportation began shuttling guests to the venue for a prompt ceremony start time of 5:00pm.

As the guests were taking their seats, String Theory Music played as a form of entertainment before the ceremony began.

Taylor and Tyler’s ceremony was short and sweet – so much so that we moved the timeone up almost 40 minutes, which is almost unheard of in the wedding planning world!

But that’s the beauty of your wedding day – it can truly be what YOU want it to be.

Right after the ceremony, guests were moved into cocktail hour where they could enjoy their choice of a signature drink and a delicious app station featuring shrimp and grits (a great choice for their location!) or a cheeseball with jam and crackers.

The reception followed shortly after where McGee Entertainment announced the new Mr. and Mrs. with the classic T.N.T by ACDC. After the bride and groom were introduced, they moved into their first dance and parent dances.

Afterwards, the welcome and blessing was given by the officiant (who happened to be Taylor’s   uncle!) and dinner was served. 

As dinner concluded guests found “Gamble with the Gammell" wedding favors under the charger plates – this was such a fun addition to a wedding reception that people LOVED!

As the sun went down, Taylor and Tyler took sunset photos while the string lights lit up the reception area allowing everyone to continue to soak in the evening and toast to the couple before their bubble grand exit!

As always, this day couldn’t have been made possible without the amazing vendors including:

What The Couple Said:

“Such a great experience! Chalonda was AMAZING. Leading up to the wedding she helped keep me organized and on task. On the day of, she helped make my vision come to life! The day ran smoothly and perfectly thanks to her. She even took care of a vendor that messed up something for me so I didn’t even have to deal with that stress. Truly would recommend her for your big day.” – Taylor Gammel

Natalie Davis
Previous

Is A Wedding Planner Really Worth It? I’ll Let You Decide!
Next

4 Must Haves to Ensure Your Guests Will Have Fun at Your Wedding