Mary Grace + Nate’s Colorful Wedding at Carillon
Ceremony Venue: The Meeting House at Carillon
Reception Venue: The Village Green at Carillon
Time of Year: Late Spring
From the Couple…
Tell us about the inspiration for your wedding day?
I envisioned a classic Southern wedding on the Emerald Coast, blending coastal elements in a tasteful and refined way. An all-white wedding wasn’t for me—I wanted color, with pink as the centerpiece of our palette because it’s my absolute favorite! My dream was for the wedding weekend to feel like a massive family reunion, bringing all our loved ones together for a joyful celebration!
Were there any special purchases or DIY aspects to your wedding? Let us know the details, and how you thought it turned out? Was there a story behind your special purchase, gift, or DIY element?
We loved incorporating personalized details into the wedding! We had monogrammed koozies and custom stationery featuring our new monogram for the formal invitations. Our cat, Smokey, also made a special appearance—his face was on the cocktail napkins, and we named a signature drink in his honor: “Smokey’s Meow-garita.” These personal touches added a lot of character and fun to the day!
What were the florals like for your wedding at Carillon? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
Flowers were incredibly important to me because I love how they can transform a space! The florals were primarily pink with complementing shades of peach, bringing vibrant color to our wedding day. My favorite piece was the floral arrangement lining the front of the band’s stage—it created such a breathtaking “wow” moment.
Did you personalize the day in any way (string trio, guest entertainment, etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding at Carillon?
Two major highlights of our wedding were the food and the band! Bay King’s Band did an amazing job getting everyone on the dance floor and creating an unforgettable energy. The food, catered by Townsend, was phenomenal, even though we didn’t get to enjoy much of it ourselves—our guests couldn’t stop raving about it afterward!
Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
Since our wedding was in May, we wanted Nate to have a summery look. We chose a white dinner jacket for him, which was timeless yet coastal. As for me, I knew my dress was “the one” the moment I tried it on. It featured a gorgeous floral print with subtle blush shadows, perfectly complementing our wedding’s florals. My wedding dress fit seamlessly in with the florals at the wedding. The trumpet style gave me the drama of a ball gown with a flattering fit that still showed off my figure.
What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
Seeing Nate for the first time was such a sweet and emotional moment. After planning the wedding for over a year, there was so much excitement leading up to that point. It was incredibly special to finally see each other as bride and groom, surrounded by our closest friends and family. Another favorite part was being able to greet so many of our guests who traveled from far away to celebrate with us.
How did you go about choosing your wedding at Carillon? Is there a special story related to your venue or location?
30A has always been a special place for us. My parents have property there, so Nate and I spent a lot of time vacationing with my family along the beach. I wanted our wedding to feel like a big family reunion, so we focused our search on venues near 30A. The Meeting House at Carillon won me over with its charming white chapel look, its bright interior, and the romantic trees out front—it was perfect!
Do you have any wedding planning advice you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
Hire a wedding planner and involve a trusted friend or family member to help keep everything on track. I was in law school while planning, and I couldn’t have done it without my incredible planner and my mom! Also, don’t get too wrapped up in bridal trends. Pinterest is great for inspiration, but focus on what feels true to your personal style rather than chasing the latest aesthetic.
From your perspective now- what element impacted your wedding day vision the most? (Ex. “I didn’t realize those glow cowboy hats would be so much fun, but they were!” Or, “the upgraded gold flatware made the table setting so elegant. I would splurge on that upgrade again in a heartbeat.”)
The floral piece on the stage and the vinyl wrap on the dance floor were absolutely showstopping! Both added such a dramatic, elegant touch to our reception. And of course, the band brought so much energy and fun—they truly made the night unforgettable!
Vendor Credits
Planner: Renee at A Wedding Collection | Hair: Rolland’s Beauty Bar | Makeup: Jenelle at Gallant Glam | Photographer: Modern Made Photography | Videographer: Joseph Hardin Films | Content Creator: Crazy in Love | Florals: Florals by the Sea | Rentals: 30a Tents & Events, Panache Tents, TableMade, BBJ La Tavola | Band: Bay Kings Band | Wedding Cake: J. Cameron Cake | Groom’s Cake: Sweet Magnolia’s Baking Co. | Catering + Bar: Townsend Catering Company | Officiant: Weddings As You Wish | Guest Book: Lee Hesley Art | Transportation: Destin Classic Car Rentals | Dance Floor Wrap: Emerald Coast Event Wraps | Stationery: Em Paper Co. | Bride’s Dress: Ines Di Santo | Groom’s Suit: J. Crew | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Carillon
