Kelly and John's destination Clearwater Beach wedding was adorned with dusty rose pinks and whites with touches of gold and natural green palms to bring their destination paradise to life.
“We live in Illinois, and I have always wanted a destination wedding. I wanted it somewhere beautiful and where the sun shines! I did some research, and I knew Clearwater Beach was the right choice,” the bride beamed. “We are both laid-back people; the attire was more beach casual. I wanted the wedding to be simple and nice. Our colors were dusty rose with accents of other pinks, whites, greens, and gold.
With 100 of the couple's friends and family flying south to celebrate their love, Kelly searched for a beachfront wedding venue with amenities to provide their guests with a vacation-like experience. The couple said their I dos on the soft, white sugar sand and hosted their reception on the rooftop of the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa.
“When I was looking for a venue, I was looking for a nice view for the ceremony and reception as well as a nice backup room just in case it rained. I also wanted to make sure the hotel rooms were nice and updated since we were all coming in from Illinois,” the bride explained. “We focused on the service and food at our venue because, at the end of the day, no one really pays attention to the wedding decor. The Hyatt was a ten out of ten! I still get compliments about the resort and how good the food was at our wedding. Everything turned out perfect. I highly recommend the Hyatt if you want to be close to the beach. Our ceremony was on the beach, cocktail hour was on the eighth floor, and then we did the reception on the 16th floor. The views and the resort are beautiful, and we had the best experience. I can't recommend it enough!”
The destination couple chose their slice of paradise for its casual vibes to match the sunshine state's relaxed atmosphere. Kelly and John created signature cocktails to show off their personalities and encouraged their guests to kick up the sand and have a good time.
“We love our dogs, June and Cash, so we made sure to do signature cocktails after them, and I found a good DJ because I wanted everyone to be dancing and having fun,” the bride shared.
The bridal party matched the beachy vibe with dusty rose dresses in different styles. The groomsmen wore tan pants with simple white button-down shirts and classic boutonnieres. Kelly selected a fitted gown with a detailed v-neck and open back as she walked down the sandy aisle to say her vows under the Florida sunshine and palm trees. Femme Akoi Beauty Studio created low bun to show off her dress and frame her face as she beamed in every photo.
“For my makeup, I didn't want too much because I don't wear makeup often, and it was perfect,” the bride gushed. “I chose Femme Akoi because of the good reviews they had and their Instagram. They were known for weddings, and they did a great job on my and my bridesmaids' hair! We were all super happy!”
Looking back, the bride and groom knew they made a perfect choice hosting their guests for a destination wedding weekend.
“The most memorable moment was having so many of our close friends and family down to celebrate us. We had such a great turnout, and everyone had a blast,” Kelly reminised.
What were your wedding hair and makeup inspiration?
For my wedding hair, I wanted a low bun with volume and pieces out around my face, and I didn't want to look too much because I don't wear makeup often.
I chose Femme Akoi Beauty Studio because of the good reviews they had and their Instagram. They were known for weddings, and they did a great job on my and my bridesmaids' hair! We were all super happy!
What did you look for in a wedding venue?
When I was looking for a venue, I was looking for a nice view for the ceremony and reception as well as a nice backup room just in case it rained. I also wanted to make sure the hotel rooms were nice and updated since we were all coming in from Illinois. We focused on the service and food at our venue because, at the end of the day, no one really pays attention to the wedding decor.
I chose the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach because of how good my tour went. They ran through everything with me, showed me all of the room options, went through different packages, etc., and the views and resort itself are beautiful! It also is a great venue because there's so much to do on Clearwater Beach.
The Hyatt was a ten out of ten! I still get compliments about the resort and how good the food was at our wedding. Everything turned out perfect. I highly recommend the Hyatt if you want to be close to the beach. Our ceremony was on the beach, cocktail hour was on the eighth floor, and then we did the reception on the 16th floor. The views and the resort are beautiful, and we had the best experience. I can't recommend it enough!”
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We ended up staying in Clearwater Beach for our honeymoon.
Where did you go on your bachelorette?
We went to Joy District in Chicago, IL.
What was your theme and colors?
We are both laid-back people; the attire was more beach casual. I wanted the wedding to be simple and nice. Our colors were dusty rose with accents of other pinks, whites, greens, and gold. I wanted it to be simple and nice.
