A Charming and Elegant Country Club Wedding featuring The Letherby’s

May weddings are always a popular choice and I was delighted to be included for the charming and elegant wedding of Lauren and Adam Letherby!

The couple chose Epping Forest Yacht Club in Jacksonville, FL for the backdrop of their big day and the grounds of the venue were a perfect match for their vision. They officially tied the knot on May 21, 2023. 🎉🥂💍

In the early stages of planning, we aimed to have an outdoor ceremony and reception, but like any outdoor wedding, on the days leading up to the event, we began stalking the radar and sending up prayers for great weather.

As a wedding planner, I always work with the couple to have a backup rain plan just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Of course, I’ll always do what we can to stick to the original goal, but if I’ve learned anything about wedding planning and coordination it’s that you have to be ready and willing to adapt.

After paying close attention to the radar, Lauren and I chose to stick with the outdoor ceremony and hope the rain would hold off.

Her and her bridesmaids went about their morning sipping mimosas and having a beautiful bridal brunch before getting all glammed up by Studio Bride!

All the while, Adam and his groomsmen took the morning slow and enjoyed lunch and a few cocktails before it was go time.

The ceremony was set up on the beautiful country club grounds and the venue really did the talking. Few details were needed and we were able to keep things minimal while still achieving the look that the couple ultimately wanted.

One of the major highlights of the ceremony was a beautiful cross set up right in front of the fountain for the couple to stand in front of while saying “I do!” 👰🏼🤵🏻

The floral details provided by A Wild Array Floral made for the perfect touch!

Shortly after the guests arrived, we began the ceremony and just as the bridal party began to enter, the storm began to move.

Right as Lauren and her father Gus began to walk down the aisle, rain started to fall. 🌧

For many, this would be viewed as a nightmare, but the weather did not come close to ruining such a perfect day.

Instead, we adapted the best we could and made the most of the moment!

And you know what they say: rain on your wedding is apparently good luck.

McGee Entertainment continued to play music for the ceremony under an umbrella and Bob with First Coast Ceremonies started the ceremony.

Together, I worked with the Epping Forest staff to hand out umbrellas for the guests, so they could continue to enjoy the ceremony. ☔️

Afterwards, we continued to adapt by having the cocktail hour inside and took this time to dry off Lauren’s dress and make sure guests were attended to to the best of our ability.

After cocktail hour, guests took their seats based on the stunning seating chart that two of the bridesmaids actually made!

We kicked off the reception with the bridal party entrance, first dance, Father of the Bride welcome speech and Mother of the Bride blessing.

Dinner followed before the cutting of the cake, which was beautifully made by Classic Cakes.

In addition to the delicious cake, the couple opted for a fun ice cream sundae bar for their guests to enjoy which was a perfect addition to their summer wedding! 🍦

After everyone enjoyed dinner and dessert, the dancing started with the mother-son and father-daughter dances, which led into the full reception.

A few hours into open dancing, the late-night snacks became available, which is personally one of my new favorite wedding trends!

Guests tend to LOVE this and it gives the couple a chance to be creative. Lauren and Adam opted for a smores and fries bar – it was definitely a hit! 🍟

After all of the festivities, the couple ended the night with a beautiful sparkler exit and the guests were able to make their own bouquets to take home as a favor!

Even though the weather didn’t cooperate as we hoped and we had to adjust a few things, Adam and Lauren made the most of their special day and I was SO honored to be a part of it!

As always, this day couldn’t have been made possible without the amazing vendors, including: