Venue Spotlight: Villa Woodbine

Wedding cake romance is real at Villa Woodbine, one of Miami’s top wedding venues.

This Mediterranean Revival-style gem in Coconut Grove is just dripping in romance and elegance. From the moment you come up its long tree-covered driveway you’ll feel transported to a fairytale paradise. Villa Woodbine is a popular venue for all sized weddings because of its stunning historic architecture, beautiful landscaping and garden, and it mostly outdoor layout. Here are The Bride Candy’s top favorite features in Villa Woodbine.

The Villa Woodbine entrance is grand a lush. Consider using The Bride Candy florals to elevate it to the next level.

The Entryway

The first thing you see at the Villa is a stone-arched entryway to its two-story façade with a view of the courtyard fountain and the gardens beyond. Its beauty is in its elegance and that it’s surrounded by greenery. Directly above is a wrought iron balcony that’s a romantic spot for couples photos. Many couples also choose to arrive by vintage car and park it in front of the entryway – it’s the perfect statement piece to welcome your guests. Consider adding a floral arch around the entryway or a cascading arrangement to the balcony above for even more impact.

The courtyard in Villa Woodbine is the heart of the venue. Add flowers to the fountain to ramp up the romance! The Bride Candy is your Miami wedding recourse to help you make your Villa Woodbine wedding a night to remember.

The Courtyard

The entryway opens up directly to the interior courtyard of the mansion. And what a beautiful courtyard it is! Vines climb up the walls and pillars, with a stunning three-tiered fountain at the courtyard center. Many couples choose to have their first dance on its stone tiled floor. Adding flowers around or even in the fountain elevates this space even further. If you’re having a cocktail hour, it will likely happen here, as will dancing after dinner. 

The beautiful tiled staircase and entrance table at Villa Woodbine is stunning. The Bride Candy is a Miami wedding florist who can help you make it a piece of art with flowers.

The Staircase

Descending from the second-floor bridal suite is an impressive Moroccan-tiled staircase. The matching entrance table is nestled next to its lowest landing. Visible from all angles of the courtyard, it’s another prime statement piece of the venue. Most couples choose to use the entrance table for their guestbook or menu cards and the staircase for photos. Add flowers to the staircase’s wrought iron railing for an enchanted photo backdrop. 

The grand oak tree at Villa Woodbine is the #1 choice to have a wedding ceremony. See what The Bride Candy, Miami’s #1 wedding florist, can do for you to make it a wedding dream.

The Grand Oak

The crown jewel of Villa Woodbine is the grand oak tree that reaches and towers over its expansive back garden. Wrapped in lights, it’s fern-covered branches create a natural canopy. The oak’s trunk is the most common backdrop for a garden ceremony, and you’ll likely have dinner under it also.  Take the option to hang a grand chandelier from it! Adding a floral arch is also advised, especially if you’re having a sweetheart table – the tree and arch make the perfect backdrop for it.

If you’re looking to have a romantic wedding at a venue that feels like a cross between an Italian villa and the Miami tropics, Villa Woodbine should be at the top of your list. Get in contact with us to see how we can bring your Villa Woodbine wedding dreams come true.

Wedding Flowers Gone Green

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One thing that surprises many couples during wedding planning is the amazing amount of stuff involved. A wedding requires a dress, catering, rings, flowers, and more. With all of the consumption, it can be difficult for eco-friendly brides to figure out a way to make their wedding dreams come true while still thinking about the environment.

This is especially true with flowers. A big wedding requires lots of them – from bouquets and boutonnieres to the arch and centerpieces, flowers make up a large part of what gets thrown out after a wedding. Here’s my top 3 tips on how you can have more environmentally friendly wedding flowers.

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Go local

There are many beautiful flowers in the world, and many of the most popular only grow in certain climates. For example, many of my brides love King Proteas for their color and size, but they only grow in South Africa and Hawaii. That means they have to be freshly harvested and flown in. The same is true for spring flowers like tulips and peonies – you’d never find them growing here in Miami! All that long-distance flying means your international flowers have a huge carbon footprint, all for just a few hours of beauty. Choosing local flowers has the biggest impact on reducing the environmental impact of your wedding. Ask your florist about what flowers are local and in season.

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Use greener materials

Floral designers use all kinds of disposable tools to make your flowers look and stay fresh. Some of these can be reused (like cages and water tubes) while others generate bulky waste (like wet foam). Also, florists sometimes use chemicals to make your flowers last longer or dyes to change their color. To make your wedding florals greener, ask your florist to not use foam or chemicals for your arrangements. This means less waste at the end of the event (and the waste that is generated is compostable!).

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Think of the bees, please

It’s easy to get caught up in how pretty flowers are, but remember they have a purpose. Plants produce flowers to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies so they can reproduce. Flowers are a crop just like fruits and vegetables, and they can also come as organic. Ask your florist about getting flowers that haven’t been treated with pesticides so we can help save the butterflies and bees.

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With a little planning it’s possible to have beautiful wedding flowers that are also good for the environment. Let’s chat about how I can make your wedding greener!

Micro weddings: Why we are choosing one and how to stick to it

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I’ve been in the industry for a very long time and for a while I thought I wanted a big wedding. That is until I started to change as a person. I started liking intimate dinners and gatherings. I also noticed the bigger the wedding, the more expensive it gets. For someone like me that’s bad news since I have expensive taste. When Jeremy and I got engaged we were bombarded with the “I better be invited” sayings from loved ones, distant relatives and friends, and even strangers. So let’s talk about the positives of the micro-wedding! Why are they on-trend and how we can stick to our guns if we choose to have one. 

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Why small?

For my thirtieth birthday I had a party. It was wonderful but one thing I regretted was I was too busy playing host. I had to watch my best friends party without me. I was called to all directions. I see that happen way too often at weddings. I had a bride tell me she felt like a ghost at her wedding. With so many photos, traditions, and toasts it can become very overwhelming but most of all it takes so much of your time. You just feel obligated to spend time with everyone. With small weddings you can take your time, have fun and enjoy your wedding. 

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The pros of micro weddings

I think the biggest take away is budget. If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll be able to afford a lot more and if you have a decent budget it will go way further. Talk about being able to afford a mini over-the-top wedding! Let’s not forget more money for the honeymoon and maybe a house! Millennials are now focusing on buying houses rather than hosting the old school big weddings of the past. Which is why micro weddings are becoming more trendy! Not to mention after these crazy pandemic times it’s also safer to have a micro wedding.

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How do I stick to my guns?

This is a decision you have to make with your partner and stick with it. If it weren’t for my fiancé and I holding each other accountable, we would have caved in a long time ago. It’s hard and it can be sad at times. It also becomes complicated when you have a close friend that your partner isn’t close to. You both must decide together what number of guests and who fits into that number. People will try to make you feel guilty, but the truth is if someone loves you, they’d understand. Remember a wedding is for you and your love, and no one else.

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Weddings aren’t just weddings but the beginning of a marriage. It’s about your partner and you. So if a micro wedding is something you desire, go for it with no shame! I’m not! I take solace in the decision my partner and I made together. Our relationship and all relationships should not revolve around one day, while a marriage and true friendships are forever. So go ahead put your love and goals first. Take some financial and planning stress off the wedding checklist. Save some money or use your budget to get a Pinterest-perfect wedding you can afford. Always remember at the end of the day we are here to love and that’s all that matters.

Preparing for weather at your outdoor wedding

When it comes to choosing a venue, many couples choose to go with one that is at least partially outdoors. Maybe it’s because of the view, or maybe there’s just more space outside. There’s something intimate and romantic about a garden or backyard ceremony. Done right, outdoor wedding can be magical. But getting married outdoors means that you’ll need to think about weather. Here’s six tips on how to have the perfect outdoor wedding.

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Have a weather plan

Your ceremony might be beautiful, but what happens if there’s wind, rain, or snow? A quick search of YouTube shows how easily wedding ceremonies can go wrong due to weather. When you’re in the moment, the last thing you’ll want to do is to solve weather problems. By thinking about a weather plan in advance you’ll be one step ahead in making sure that your wedding happens beautifully no matter what.

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Talk to your venue

If your venue has outdoor spaces, then they are used to dealing with weather. Talk to your venue about what to do. Your venue will likely have suggestions, like using indoor space as backup or setting up a tent. They may even have a list of preferred vendors to help you plan for weather. No matter what, they’ve seen what works best in their space.

Talk to your vendors

It’s not just the venue that needs to plan for weather – your vendors will need to make adjustments too! If it’s forecast to be cold, make sure the caterer has a plan to keep napkins and linens on tables and covers for heated plates. If it’s windy, make sure your florist knows to secure big items like the wedding arch or tall centerpieces. You don’t want your expensive wedding flowers to topple over in the middle of your ceremony! Check your local forecast and contact all your vendors a week before the event to see what they need to be successful.

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Be flexible

Maybe you wanted your photobooth or DJ in a particular spot, or maybe you had a minute by minute breakdown for your reception. When it comes to weather, we don’t have much control. Know that you might have to make last minute or real time adjustments to your layout and timeline when weather happens. First dance under the stars at 8 PM? You might want to rethink it if it’s pouring. A great idea is to hire a day-of-coordinator (they will manage your vendors and timeline for you) so if weather happens they can step in and save the day.

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Get insurance

Sometimes the weather is so bad that it’s impossible to have the wedding. Maybe a bad storm causes the venue to flood, or winter weather prevents the bride or groom from being able to fly to their destination wedding. There’s thousands of dollars on the line, and much of it is nonrefundable. Getting a wedding insurance policy will give you peace of mind – it covers the cost of the wedding if it can’t happen (and most policies also protect you from personal liability and vendor no-shows, too). You can get a great wedding insurance policy for a few hundred dollars. Check out this researched ranking of some popular wedding insurance policies.

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Have fun

So it rained on your wedding day. Is it what you pictured? Maybe not, but now it’s part of your wedding story. There’s not much we can do about the weather at the end of the day, but there’s a lot we can do about staying present and having fun. This is one of the most important days of your life. So take a breath and enjoy the moment. It’s time to enjoy your wedding!

5 easy steps to a Pinterest-perfect wedding

Tropical flowers in the sun at Deering Estate in Miami

Now that everyone is spending a LOT more time at home, one thing is for sure – this is the perfect time to start putting together your wedding inspiration on Pinterest! It’s the best way to keep all of your ideas in one place and share them with others. But how do you get a clear wedding vision from hundreds of pins? Follow these five easy steps to get there.

Romantic wedding flowers in a fountain from The Bride Candy, a Miami florist.

Create a master board

Pin what you love to your master board. Go nuts! This is your chance to explore. Love the idea of having your dog as part of your wedding? Put some floral collars on your board. Can’t get enough of vintage dresses? Pin a bunch of them. This is the fun part! You want to get everything in once place before you can start to see the overall trends that draw your attention.

Featured on the cover of Style Me Pretty, this same love proposal featured beautiful white wedding flowers on a stone arch at Curtiss Mansion from The Bride Candy, Miami’s #1 florist.

Decide what you like

Look at all of your pins on your master board and decide WHAT about them you like. Is it the type of flowers you see, or maybe the colors? Maybe it’s the light in the photo or an element of a tablescape. You need to get a handle on what the key elements are of your style. By this point you should have a lot of photos to compare! It’s okay if some of these elements clash – we’re just looking for pattern right now. Write them all down in a list so you know what to look for in the next step.

Bride loves the smell of fresh wedding flowers from The Bride Candy, a Miami wedding florist.

Edit, Edit, Edit

Get those images down to 20 or so that reflect the spirit of your wedding. That’s right, Marie Kondo the shit out of it. TAKE OUT things that aren’t essentials (they don’t include one of your style elements), things that clash with your other pins, and things that don’t fit the logistics of your wedding (Beach wedding? Then no throwing rice. 300 guests? Then no receiving line. Etc.) This is your wedding mood board. Have patience, and don’t be afraid to walk away if it’s getting too overwhelming. By editing your wedding down to so few images you’ll get very clear on style.

Long tables of greenery add simple elegance to any tropical wedding

Create sub boards

Now that you have your overall wedding style it’s time to go deeper into each aspect of your wedding. Create sub boards around things like flowers, cakes, dresses, reception, and food. Now you can fill those sub boards with as many inspiration photos are you like. Whenever you add a pin to your sub-boards, compare it to the general board first to make sure it fits the aesthetic. These boards help when you are selecting your wedding vendors.

Protea, tulips, and other flowers make for a lush tropical bouquet of wedding flowers.

Share your boards with your vendors

Now that you’re organized, it’s time to bring in your vendors (or select them if you haven’t already). You’ll want to choose vendors that understand the spirit your wedding. Maybe the vendors are ones you already have on your Pinterest board! Just remember to use Pinterest as a guide – you’re trying to capture the overall aesthetic while giving your vendors enough leeway to personalize to your specific tastes.

Tropical centerpieces in vibrant colors of wedding flowers look incredible in pictures.

By following these steps, your wedding will be stylish, beautiful, and uniquely you. So use this time to get inspired! I wish you love and blessings. Happy Pinteresting!

Coronavirus Help for the Wedding Industry

The Bride Candy is fortunate to be part of an amazing community of wedding vendors that specialize in making dreams come true. Unfortunately, many of us have been heavily impacted by the current pandemic. Before all else, I hope you’re staying safe and healthy and relatively sane during these crazy times. There’s a lot of information and misinformation out there on what steps to take to try to minimize the impact to business. We sat down with our friend Carlos Canasi, a Miami-based CPA, to get the scoop on what help is available to small businesses in the industry. This post is geared towards Florida-based small businesses, but there are national resources mentioned as well.

What is being done to help?

The most consequential help available is under the CARES Act, passed earlier this year. “The purpose of the CARES act is to provide relief to individuals, businesses, and government organizations by public funding of $2 Trillion dollars,” said Carlos. It’s a sweeping bill that has multiple provisions that may pertain to you, like stimulus checks, expanded unemployment, and grants and loans to small businesses. To a lesser extent there are also state programs available, but major funding for just about all help comes from the CARES Act. Here’s what you can expect.

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Getting a Stimulus Check


There’s been a lot of press about the one-time non-taxable $1200 checks coming from the government. How do I get that money? “You need to do nothing,” said Carlos. “The government knows who and where you are (literally) and will directly deposit the funds into your account. You won’t have to file anything to receive the rebate.” But not everyone is eligible to receive a check. “The government will use your 2019 tax return or your 2018 tax return to determine if you qualify. If your income is $75,000 or less - or $150,000 or less if you’re married - you’re eligible for a $1,200 individual or $2,400 married couple rebate. If you have dependent children under 17, you’ll also get $500 per child. If you make over $75,000 or $150,000, your rebate will be reduced by $5 for every $100 over $75,000 that you make. But if you make over these threshold amounts, you won’t get a rebate: Individual: $99,000; Head of household with one child: $146,500; Joint filers with no children: $198,000. To qualify, you can’t be claimed as a dependent by others and you must have a work-eligible social security number.”

The government knows who and where you are (literally) and will directly deposit the [stimulus] funds into your account.

Filing for Unemployment


One of the major aspects of the CARES Act is that it expands state unemployment payment levels and eligibility. “You are eligible for unemployment as a self-employed person under the CARES Act,” said Carlos. “You are entitled to $600 a week for up to four months.” And that’s on top of Florida’s determination (up to $275 a week depending on your previous income). You can apply for Florida Unemployment via website, phone (1-800-204-2418), or paper form. This is an excellent benefit and you should take advantage of it! You need to apply soon - there are hundreds of thousands of people in front of you. Call centers have been overwhelmed and the Florida Unemployment website frequently goes down, so the most reliable way to apply is to complete the paper application and mail it in. If you need help, contact your State Senator’s office – they are experts at getting things unstuck that are tied up in bureaucracy. If you’re outside the state of Florida, go to this website and select your state to find your unemployment office.

Photo by Care Studios

Photo by Care Studios

Getting a grant by taking a loan

There’s been some information going around that says small business owners might be eligible for disaster grants. But this grant is actually an advance on a loan from the SBA. “To get money to businesses that need it quickly, anyone who applies for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) can request an emergency grant on that loan of up to $10,000,” said Carlos. “This money will be distributed by the SBA (Small Business Association) within three days. The grant can be used to maintain payroll, provide sick leave, buying materials, paying your mortgage or rent, and repaying any obligations you can’t currently pay because you’ve lost revenue from COVID-19.” You are eligible for this as long as your business is under 500 employees. Sole proprietors, LLCs, and Corporations are all eligible. Find out more and apply at the SBA website.

The EIDL itself is expansive. “You can borrow up to $2,000,000 on a 15- or 30-year term,” said Carlos. “The interest rate is 3.75% for businesses and 2.75% for Not for Profits.” The EIDL is not a forgivable loan. “And you don’t want it to be forgiven! The SBA will only forgive your loan if you go completely out of business.”

You need to apply soon - there are hundreds of thousands of people in front of you.

Should I take out a loan?

“Borrowing is a unique/personal decision. There isn’t a one-size fits all formula,” said Carlos. “For most small businesses, a quick “back of the napkin” calculation is a good way to start.” Ask yourself these questions:

  • How much cash do I have available to pay current and future debt?

  • Is there anything I can liquidate to come up with cash?

  • What’s my current monthly debt?

  • Is the interest rate favorable? Do I have credit cards with better interest rates than the loan offers?

  • Is there a penalty for paying back the loan ahead of maturity?


You’ll also want to do a bit of forecasting. “Create a spreadsheet in Excel forecasting the next 12 months. Include your forecasted cash inflows and outflows,” said Carlos. If you need help putting together a spreadsheet like this, contact Carlos here.

How can I financially survive this pandemic?

Everyone is worried about cashflow right now, but to best protect your finances you’ve got to stay safe! “Follow the CDC guidelines and stay home.  Getting out and being exposed can end up in unnecessary medical expenses, and worse, health complications,” said Carlos. If you need help, start with the people who are closest to you. “Many times we’re afraid of asking for help because we’re proud people. And by asking for help I mean asking friends and family for business, financial advances (keep your promise, of course), CPAs for advice, etc.  Be able to rely on your community and share with others whatever knowledge you acquire.”

Remember that 87% of the population is still employed and many of those are willing and able to spend their dollars.

This is also a prime opportunity to explore other potential revenue streams for your business. “There are still plenty of folks who are employed and willing and able to hire you for services not traditionally rendered,” siad Carlos. “Are you a wedding planner? Create and sell a step by step guide to preparing a dream wedding. Florist? Start hosting floral workshops online. Catering? Start meal prepping for people or add a “COVID” discount to anyone who prepays for your services. Yes, it’s not ideal by any stretch of the imagination and unemployment is at 13% - that means 87% of the population is still employed and many of those are willing and able to spend their dollars.” 

If you’re unable to generate other revenue streams, try adding social distancing to or modifying the prices on your existing product and focusing on breaking even. “Are you a photographer? Sell your service for in-home photo shoots while maintaining social distance – pull out that mega zoom, baby!” said Carlos. Or try lowering your prices temporarily to be more competitive. “We all want to make a profit, of course! But right now we likely want to afford housing and food more than anything. So, think of how you can reduce your pricing or offer prepayments to allow you to break even during the pandemic.”

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Still feeling confused or anxious? You’re not alone. Let’s chat about it over FaceTime or Zoom – just reach out. You can also reach out to Carlos for more CPA questions. Sending love and blessings your way. Stay safe!

La Isla del Encanto

One Thursday afternoon, Jeremy and I were running through the airport. “Oh my God I hope we don’t miss this flight!” I said to Jeremy as we passed by a crowd of people. I had no idea that morning when I woke up that I’d end up in Puerto Rico. My fiancé had convinced me to go on a last minute trip to the island of my people. No one even knew we were going. Later that day we kissed under the sunset next to El Morro – this is where the most romantic adventure began on the enchanted island, La Isla del Encanto.

Photography by Enuel Viera Photography and Vanessa Velez Photography

La Isla del Encanto

Puerto Rico is truly enchanted. The entire island is surrounded by sparkling blue water facing the Caribbean sea. The beaches are so beautiful it all feels so unreal. At night the island begins to sing with the voice of the coquí, a tiny frog that only lives there. We stayed in old San Juan in an Airbnb with a balcony where you could view the city. All the buildings are in colonial Spanish style painted with different colors. The streets are paved with stone surrounded by art shops, restaurants, and old grand churches. The town has castle-like buildings that are called “El Morro” and “San Cristóbal” which were both fortresses built by Spain to protect the island from intruders. They overlook the water, giving it a picturesque view of the sea. Talk about romantic! Also the food is to die for!

Photography by Enuel Viera Photography and Vanessa Velez Photography

El Yunque and the glowing water

The next day of our trip, we wasted no time and decided to see the rainforest (El Yunque) and the bioluminescent water. That morning (after having mimosas on our balcony) we headed out to see the rainforest. The waterfalls were spectacular, and the gardens so lush. We saw hummingbirds and butterflies. My favorite part were the views at the top. You could see the entire island from the top of watch towers built with stone. Mountains lush with greenery, blue water, and white sand you could see on all sides. Later that night, we kayaked in the bioluminescent water. Our paddles splashed bursts of light in the water. When you waved your hand in the water it looked as if you had magic powers. The darker it got the brighter the water glowed. It was magical.

Photography by Enuel Viera Photography and Vanessa Velez Photography

The Magic Door

This trip started two months before with a picture of a door on a vision board. We had wanted to manifest this trip and found a picture of an old door in Old San Juan that we loved and pasted it on the vision board. The third day in San Juan we went in search of it, and we found it! It was so vivid and weathered it looked as if it had withstood the test of time. That night we explored the city’s night life after a romantic dinner under the moonlight. I swear everything I ate there whether it was at a fancy restaurant or a road side food truck the food was to die for. The next day we discovered the city was filled with art. Each shop had beautiful paintings in bright colors, drawings filled the walls of some shops and poetry was on display in shop front windows.

Puerto Rico is beautiful, breathtaking and filled with culture. I ended my trip with asking an artist to create me a special art piece of the door we had posted on our vision board. I left Puerto Rico prouder than I had ever been to be Puerto Rican. I urge you to visit and experience “La Isla del Encanto” – the enchanted island. It is an experience you can’t miss! It’s a short, cheap flight and may I add most people also know English there! The perfect place for a short romantic get away.

Venue Spotlight: Curtiss Mansion

Photography by Csanchez photography

Photography by Csanchez photography

There’s no shortage of amazing venues in Miami. But one of the The Bride Candy’s favorite venues to work in is one that doesn’t look all that Miami from the outside, but has a whole lot of Miami history on the inside. Today, we’re talking about the Curtiss Mansion in Miami Springs. It’s a venue that I love so much it’s where I chose to get engaged!

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It’s Got Style

Curtiss Mansion was the home of Glenn Curtiss, aviation pioneer and developer of Miami communities like Opa Locka, Hialeah, and Miami Springs. It’s built in the Pueblo Rival style, so when you drive up to it you can immediately tell that this is a truly unique venue that looks like it would be just at home in Santa Fe as it is in Miami Springs. Some of the standout features of the venue are the porte cochere (the covered entrance at the front), the front lawn, the interior courtyard, the back arbor, the bridge to nowhere, and the lake. All make a great backdrop for photos, and you can bet that there’s a lot of styled shoots and engagement photos that happen at the mansion. 

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It’s Comfortable

What makes the Curtiss Mansion an amazing venue is its versatility. It’s got a lot of space! With the addition of a newly paved exterior courtyard, it can now accommodate weddings of over three hundred. But no matter if you have a huge wedding or an intimate one, Curtiss is a comfortable spot to host your celebration. One thing the venue really excels at is everything pre-wedding. Many brides choose to get ready at the mansion since they have a dedicated bridal suite. That makes getting to the first look and pre-wedding photos a snap. It’s a great idea to get those out of the way early so you can enjoy your cocktail hour. 

Many couples choose to do the ceremony in the expansive front lawn. Shaded by trees, it’s the perfect spot to exchange vows. Consider adding bistro lighting for extra ambiance. Wondering where to put the dancefloor? The interior courtyard is the perfect place to dance the night away and it looks great with uplighting and DJ lights. There’s also a fair amount of interior space in case of rain, making the Curtiss Mansion a smart venue choice. 

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It Comes With Great People

My favorite part about this venue is working with the Curtiss Mansion family. It’s run by Sherry and Javi, two of the most dedicated people in the industry. “We do what we do because we believe in true love ,” said Sherry. “It’s important to us that every couple has an amazing experience here.” Many venues simply provide the space and a set of rules and walk away. But the Curtiss Mansion give you that personal touch. They are happy to give advice on what works well and they have a list of outstanding vendors who can help you bring your wedding dreams to life. Sherry is also a BIG supporter of same-love weddings and actively looks to promote the venue to couples from all walks of life. 

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If you’re looking for an affordable Miami venue with exceptional customer service, The Bride candy is happy to recommend the Curtiss Mansion as an option for you. Tell them I sent you!

Coronavirus update: How can I save my wedding?

There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding, but one thing no one counted on was that a global pandemic would mean that many weddings over the next two months won’t happen. It’s a really stressful time! You’re worried about your health and the health of your loved ones. The last thing you want to do is to put your wedding guests at risk. You’re thinking about cancelling or postponing your wedding. But you’ve paid your deposits and signed contracts. What can you do to save your special day?

Stay calm

Right now your focus should be on making sure that you and your partner are safe. Maybe you’re under self-quarantine already or preparing for it. Give yourself time to process everything that’s happening and be kind to your yourself for the emotions that you’re feeling. Nothing about this is easy.

One thing to remember is that everyone in the wedding industry is in the same boat right now. There are many concerned people who have weddings in the next two months. You can expect that your guests, vendors, and venue will be understanding as you start your conversations with them. We are all focused on health right now, and we will understand why you might want to postpone your wedding.

Talk to your venue

If your wedding is around the corner, it’s very likely that your venue may have already reached out to you. It’s unlikely that venues will proceed with events over the next eight weeks now that the CDC had issued its latest recommendations. Talk to your venue about your options. Most will offer to apply your deposit to a new wedding date. Be sure to have one in mind – many other couples are doing the same thing right now and future dates are filling up fast.

Talk to your vendors

Once you’ve talked to your venue, it’s time to touch base with your vendors. Make sure to reach out to everyone – your caterer, florist, rentals, officiant, and entertainment. If you have a new wedding date, now is the time to share it. You can do this all in one email to all your vendors to quickly see if they are available on the new date.  Make sure to ask them if their services will be affected by the new date (maybe the showcase flower on your wedding bouquet won’t be in season anymore, for example).

Check your orders

Right now it’s hard to get anything from overseas. If you’ve placed and order for a dress or ring and expect it to be shipped to the United States, you should get in contact with your seller right away. Ask your seller what you can expect and what options they can give to you to make sure you get your items.

Tell your guests

Your guests are probably expecting to hear from you about your wedding especially if they’re traveling to it. Right now most people are unwilling (or unable) to fly. Reassure them that you still intend to have a wedding but that you’ve postponed the date for everyone’s safety. You’ll need to get confirmations again from your guests since the new date might affect your guest count. That’s okay – as long as the most important people are there it will all be worth it in the end.

Feeling overwhelmed? Tell me what’s on your mind and I’ll do my best to give you advice to make the process a bit easier. Everyone in the wedding industry loves love and wants you to celebrate your special day. We are here to support you!

Fur Babies And Weddings

Tips on how to keep them safe and comfortable on your special day.

Photography by uriel-photography

Photography by uriel-photography

We love our fur babies and they are a big part of our families. It’s becoming very popular to involve them in our weddings. And why not? They make everyone smile and look really great in a flower collar. Some couples decide to even use their pet as a ring bearer! It’s a great idea to involve your pet in your wedding. But weddings can be dangerous for pets. Taking a few simple steps can make sure that your pet is happy and healthy at the end of your wedding.

Photography by laylle digital media

Photography by laylle digital media

Designate a handler

You’re going to have your hands full on your wedding day. It’s a good idea to choose someone to be responsible for your pet during the wedding. Make sure you choose a person that doesn’t have other wedding responsibilities so they can keep a close eye on your pet. I highly recommend hiring a handler. Not only are they professionals but you don’t want your guests baby sitting your fur baby do you? Too often I see family members forget about the animals and well that’s when the chaos starts. In general, you want to be sure that your pet doesn’t cause damage to the venue (so you can get that deposit back) or that your pet doesn’t get injured. Make sure to talk to your venue so you have a place where your pet can stay for most of the wedding. If you need help finding a professional handlers ask you're planner or even us!

Photography by care weddings

Photography by care weddings

Be careful of toxins

For your pet to be comfortable, they need food and plenty of water. But you’ll also need to keep them away from things that might make them sick. That includes some wedding flowers! Lilies, anthuriums, holly, poinsettias, and tulips are all very poisonous to pets. It’s also common to treat wedding florals with hydration chemicals that are also toxic. Make sure your handler keeps your pet away from any and all wedding flowers (except for a floral collar designed for your pet – I always use safe flowers).

Photography by uriel-photography

Photography by uriel-photography

Have an emergency kit

If the worst should happen and your pet gets injured at the wedding, will you be prepared? Give the handler the name, location, and number to your vet and a nearby emergency clinic. Pack a kit with a crate, pop-up water bowl, blanket, basic first aid kit, Benadryl, paw protectors, and a photo in case of separation. And include something from home to help make your pet feel safe and secure, like a favorite toy

gay dream engagement surrounded by wedding flowers

Take photos!

It’s special to have your pet at your wedding! Make sure to capture the moment. Many couples choose to do a first look with their pets as well as their partners. It makes for a great photo holiday card later! You’ll always want to remember how your whole family was part of your special day.

gay wedding flowers miami fl

We love our fur babies !! I know I love mine very much and want them to be comfortable and safe from harm. Im sure you do too! I hope this blog helped you with things you may not have thought about. I highly recommend hiring a professional so you don’t have to worry. Make sure to take lots of photos and talk to your designer about floral accents for your pets. like yours truly, I love making floral colors for pets . Talk to me about how I can make your pet look beautiful on your wedding day!