Adam JosephsAhh...it's the night before your wedding. Jitters are in full swing and excitement is at an all time high! It's the first glimpse of the love you're going to feel the following day. My husband (still getting used to saying that!) and I were so pumped for this night! His parents put together the most beautiful and fun rehearsal dinner and welcome party for us. After rehearsing for the wedding, we had about an hour or so with our bridal party and then the rest of our guests came for a fun night before the big day!
I had nothing to do with putting any of this together, which was a pretty amazing feeling to just show up and have a good time. It was all the generous work of my new in-laws and our amazing wedding planner, Liz Seligman with Island Life Events. It all took place at Islamorada Fish Company in Islamorada, Fla.
They kept all the details hush-hush so Shanon (hubby) and I would be surprised when we got there, and we were! We showed up right before sunset. Our jaws dropped when we looked at the breathtaking view.
The tables and bar were setup right next to the ocean while the sky was in the midst of changing colors for the beautiful sunset. I think we all spent the first hour trying to snap as many pretty sunset photos as we could. This is a shot with my amazing new in-laws!
The decor was colorful, bright and fun! Just the vibe I'd hoped for. Instead of one big centerpiece, they used multiple small arrangements of different sizes and colors. Liz worked with Floral Fantasy and Keys Audio Party Rentals to help bring Terri (new mother-in-law) and Tracy's (new father-in-law) ideas to life.
After the sunset photo sesh, we all got a cocktail and started snacking on the yummy hors d'oeuvres! And because food details are some of my favorite details, we had a Caribbean raw bar, ahi poke on wonton crisps, coconut shrimp and chicken satay for appetizers.
Then, right before dinner, Shanon and I took a quick minute to tell everyone thank you for coming and pass out some little gifts for our bridal party. Then, we were all gifted with a huge dinner! We had everything from steak to tuna to pasta! I ate as much as my tight little white dress would allow!
I did save a little room for some of bite-sized desserts. How adorable are those little key lime pies? That was such a cute touch! What a tragedy it would have been if my friends didn't get some key lime pie while they were in the Florida Keys!
Shanon and I loved our welcome party. It was the first time we got a full glimpse at all the friends and relatives who made the trip to be there, which was heartwarming to say the least. Everyone got to meet each other over a few drinks, it was the best pre-party for the BIG party the next day!
Next blog...wedding pictures!!!