Paul and Alex were married in December in their sunny hometown of Pensacola, Florida. They had an assortment of in town guests and out of town guests, and Paula really wanted everyone to experience Pensacola to the fullest. From the beginning of planning, we made sure to incorporate bits and pieces of historic Pensacola to the event design. Her sister even did the artwork of trees covered in Spanish moss for the save the dates — a fixture in the Pensacola landscape. The weather cooperated and we were gifted the most beautifully sunny day! We say this all the time, but Paula and Alex really are one of the most fun couples, and it shows in their wedding reception! Their guests were treated to quite a party underneath twinkle lights and a clear span tent featuring a face painting station and late night Krystal burgers. What more could you ask for?! We made such great vendor friends working in Pensacola, and we hope to have another wedding there soon! Thank you Grace Photography Studio for the great photos.

How did you two get engaged?

“Our yearly ski trip is very special to us, and Alex always knew he wanted to propose on the slopes. My sister and Alex scoped out the perfect spot on a beautiful, quiet run earlier in the day. Right before lunch, my sister and her boyfriend faked an equipment malfunction so Alex asked me to do "one more run" before meeting them for lunch. We started down the SolBright trail, and I followed Alex when he skied over to a hilly spot that overlooked the whole valley. I was so confused when he took off his skis (anyone who's skied that trail knows you have to keep up your speed) but it all made sense when he got down on one knee. There is a weather phenomenon called "snow sparkle" that happens every once in a while, when it's sunny but snowing. We were lucky enough to be caught in a snow sparkle shower during the proposal, and it looked like the air was full of glitter - dreamy is an understatement! We were all alone until we flagged down someone about five minutes later to take our picture, and then made it down to celebrate with champagne at the bottom of the slopes. We promised each other we'd wait an hour to start calling our friends and family, knowing it was our chance to bask in it uninterrupted!”

What was your favorite part of planning the wedding with HBD?

“I absolutely loved getting to know Handley and the team so well. I wish we could still have meetings!!! I loved Handley's attention to detail, and her guidance on how to prioritize was invaluable. She took us to heart when we said our theme was "FUN" and ran with it. I'm so thankful for the friendship that formed between Handley and me as we planned the best weekend ever!”

What was your favorite part of the wedding day?

“Oh man, how do I choose?! Can I have three? Getting ready with my bridesmaids and mom was so fun - everyone stayed at the historic Lee House on Pensacola Bay, and it was such a gorgeous day that we had all the French doors open, doing hair and makeup on the wrap around porches and enjoying a perfect December day. Our first look was something we were really indecisive about and am SO glad we decided to do it. Getting to be alone together before all the mayhem started was really special (and calming). And of course, dancing to City Heat will always be a favorite memory of mine (especially when Sully made an appearance!). All we wanted was for our guests to have a really FUN time, and the dance floor was packed from start to finish.”

Your cake was really unique? Did you have special inspiration for this?

“I loved the naked cake trend from a few seasons back, but after ironing out the details of our black tie winter wedding, a naked cake seemed a bit too casual. I still loved the silhouette, so fondant and what I called "the upside down ruffle" added some elegance to the simple silhouette. Betty Weber even added a touch of gold leaf on the edge of the ruffle, which coordinated so beautifully with our other gold accents.”

What advice do you have for newly engaged girls?

“After the initial excitement of your engagement, you'll get a LOT of (unsolicited) opinions thrown at you. Try to remember that it's really about what you and your fiance want. Be sure to prioritize conversations with each other so you're on the same page, and don't let other people's opinions about dates, venues, etc. bog you down.”