Wed: Jennifer & Nick at Casa Ybel, Sanibel

We're in Southwest Florida today, in the final stop of our road trip, and SO happy to be sharing a gorgeous Sanibel wedding from another of the absolute favorites on our list, Luminaire Foto. From the white sand beaches to the charm and history of Casa Ybel Resort, this lovely little day is definitely my idea of a dream destination wedding... and this beautiful couple has definitely found their dream in each other.

Nick and Jennifer met on eHarmony, and Nick matched each and every one of Jennifer's 21 must-haves for her "future husband". Says the bride, What I love most about Nick is that he is very sweet, intelligent and caring. He is one of the most thoughtful people that I know. Our relationship has always been very easy and we both have a way of bringing out the best in each other. If you asked Nick what he likes most about me, he would tell you that he likes my sense of humor and how I make him laugh. Also, he still remembers exactly what I was wearing on our first date! I truly believe that Nick and I are a match made in heaven. Family members have commented on how well we get along and how well we work together. I know we'll have many obstacles to overcome as we go through life, and I'm confident that we'll be able to make it through anything together.

Jennifer shared the details behind their choice of Sanibel and Casa Ybel: When we first got engaged, we were planning on a traditional wedding in the Detroit, Michigan area. It wasn't too far into our wedding planning that we realized that wasn't what we wanted. We wanted a small, intimate gathering with our closest family and friends. 57 to be exact. We wanted to be married on the beach. The natural beauty of the ocean, the sun and the sand is the most beautiful backdrop imaginable. We both fell in love with Casa Ybel on Sanibel Island. I still remember how I felt when we first pulled into the drive; I knew this was the place for us. The buildings and the landscaping are gorgeous, and the resort has a very relaxing vibe. Plus, they are known for their exceptional food and we wanted to make sure our guests were well fed. We were afraid planning a wedding so far from home would be difficult, but that wasn't the case at all. The staff at Casa Ybel was very helpful, responsive and easy to work with. We knew right away that we were in good hands.

The couple planned a fun, full weekend for their guests, including a welcome party with volleyball and a sand castle building contest. There were a few worries along the way, though, says Jennifer: When we first landed in Fort Myers, the forecast called for a week of rain. Many people had taken time off of work to fly down for our wedding. We felt terrible! The next day, the sun came out and the rain clouds went away. We had a week of beautiful weather and an absolutely perfect wedding day. There were hardly any clouds in the sky. Even the wind was blowing my veil in the right direction at our ceremony. Our ceremony was actually quite "emotional" with hardly a dry eye! In the end, everything was perfect.

The bride also shared a few of the details, projects, and memories from their day. They made their save the dates, which were a message in a bottle; their welcome bags, which included hand-painted wine corks; and they created escort 'cards' out of sand dollars.

Says Jennifer, We tried to keep our wedding colors natural - champagne and aqua with a splash of pink. David Lapio, who played the steel drums, really helped to set the mood. He was awesome! That night, we were surprised with a "super moon", the biggest full moon of the year. I couldn't believe how bright it was! Our photographers got some amazing shots. The reception was a lot of fun. I think it's safe to say that everyone had a great time. Nick's brother, Courtney, wrote and sang a special song while playing the guitar and harmonica for Nick and his mom to dance to.

I have to add that we couldn't have been happier with our wedding photographers!!! The photo booth was a major hit. Karl and Nanette went above and beyond what we were expecting and even hoping for. They captured every little detail. They are personable and very good at what they do. They helped us with our timeline and kept us on track the day of. Everyone commented on how great they were. Most importantly, our wedding pictures were phenomenal.

I have to agree - everything looked just amazingly beautiful and filled with love. Congrats to Nick and Jennifer, and our thanks to Nanette and Karl of Luminaire Foto for sharing this gorgeous day with us!

VENUE/VENDOR INFORMATION:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Casa Ybel Resort, Sanibel | Photography: Luminaire Foto | Photo Booth: Fotobooth | Submission: Two Bright Lights

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