When Amanda met John, they started out as friends- going out on the boat with friends. But then John started inviting Amanda out on the boat just the two of them, and Amanda started to think maybe there was more there. Except for one small detail…he wouldnt kiss her! Poor Amanda was so confused- were they dating…or NOT! John, in his sweet, Southern way was taking his time, wooing Amanda- well, whatever he did, it worked, because as these two tied the knot under the big Oak trees by the water, Amanda was still as smitten with John, and John is pretty enamored with her too!

The two planned a fabulous southern soiree, but they were part of what I like to call “the great palm valley fall-out”. These two had 6 weeks to find a new venue, and change their alreadt printed invitations! Luckily, Ponte Vedra Inn stepped up, and offered to let them use the Outpost, which worked perfectly. They set up lawn games, and bench tables, and kept the same theme going- you would have thought the event was planned for that venue! I know it was loads of work for the couple and their families, but the end result was worth the effort!

Congrats you two- I hope that the rest of your lives are as magical as the first day of your marriage! Thank you for making Pure Sugar part of your love story!

How did you two meet? We met through our mutual friend Luke.  Somehow when everyone was suppose to get together it would end up just being John and I, we really got to know one another during those times together, after 2 months of friendship we decided to take it to the next level and have been inseparable since.

How did he propose?  We had purchased a new home and were moving our belongings in.  It was Friday Sept. 30th and the next day Saturday Oct.1 was our 1 year dating anniversary.  We had been moving stuff in most of the evening and I was taking my time unpacking my clothes into my new master closet (LOVE), he kept hurrying me along and was being pushy… Somewhere in between all that we decided to order pizza…  So as I was finishing up my closet the pizza arrived and we decided to chow down…  John made some comment about celebrating our anniversary and that made me remember that I had bought him a card, so I ran and grabbed it and gave it to him. As he was reading the sweet card, I proceeded to shove my face full of pizza and cheese sticks, I know…  CLASSY!!! He then explained that he didn’t get me anything, and I told him no biggie, that I just got him a card not a present…  Then it seemed like a light bulb went off in his head and he said, ‘WAIT, I did get you something…’ Not having any idea that the next minute was about to be the biggest in my life, I took a big bite of a cheesestick…  He comes in the house drops to one knee and asks, ‘Will you marry me?’ I looked at him and said, ‘WHAT? Are you serious? Now? I have a cheesestick in my mouth…’ And that was it…  Completely unexpected, but 100% us…  No fuss, just us in our house eating food…  It was the best and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

How did you choose your theme? Flowers? and overall wedding design? We had decided on something very Southern, we wanted an old time lawn party…  Games and just pure socialization, not your typical wedding.  Flowers were always going to be white, which was the overall theme…  Whites, neutrals, anything natural…  Our venue changed 8 weeks before the wedding, but it turned out to fit our theme even more…

What was the best part of your wedding day?  Actually getting able to sit down and eat which most people told us we wouldn’t be able to do… And of course, marrying each other!

What do you want to always remember from your wedding day?  That even though we faced some challenges 8 weeks before with having to find a new venue, it somehow always works out for the best.  It truly was a day that embodied our personalities and allowed those closet to us to share in our happiness.

“IF I only I knew!” what is one piece of advise you would give to brides planning their wedding day?  Let your Mom handle everything…  It made my whole experience stress free…  Oh and don’t get married outside at the end of June in Florida, it is too DAMN hot!

And where are you going on your honeymoon?  We have no idea…  We haven’t planned one yet…  We can’t decide where and what we want to do, so until then we are gonna just do our thing and be on the boat on the weekends!

List of Fabulous Vendors-

Rehearsal Dinner venue  Sawgrass Beach Club
Ceremony Venue The Outpost
Reception Venue The Outpost
Bridal Gown Casablanca
Bridesmaids Gowns Alfred Angelo
Grooms Wear Perry Ellis Linen Suit
Groomsman’s Wear Perry Ellis Linen Suit
Hair Janice DeStefano
Flowers Patty Nimnicht and Lori Parker
Design Jan Wurster
Invitations Monique Lhuillier from The Write Touch (San Marco)
Ceremony Music Music Factory
Reception Music {DJ or Band} Music Factory
Engagement Ring Beards Jewelry
Bride’s Wedding Ring Beards Jewelry
Groom’s Wedding Ring Beards Jewelry
Coordinator Save the Date Weddings (Madyson Holden Kovatch)
Caterer The Chef’s Garden
Cake Designer Metro Custom Cakes
Officiant Sherman Reed