A Great Gatsby-Inspired Wedding at the Ballroom at Church St. in Orlando, Florida

You could say it was bad weather that brought Meagan O’Shaughnessy (27 and a wedding planner) and Ashton Cooke (28 and a pilot) together. The couple met over 10 years before they tied the knot at a restaurant in Altamonte Springs, FL just after the mandatory curfews brought on by a series of hurricanes had been lifted. The two hit it off and even though Ashton would be heading home to Ireland in just a matter of months, the pair decided to enjoy what little time they had left together. Once it came time for him to head home, the couple realized they weren’t quite ready to call it quits just yet and embarked on a long distance relationship. “We made a point to talk everyday and saw each other about every two to three months,” says Meagan. “The visits became more and more frequent and we eventually bought our first apartment together. Ten year later, we’ve purchased a house, are happily married and welcomed our first child in February!”For their wedding, the couple planned a Gatsby-inspired bash at the Ballroom at Church St. in Orlando, FL. “At the time, I was the owner of Sweet Pea Brides, a Central Florida-based wedding planning business. Because of this, I was familiar with many of the venues in the area and I knew the Ballroom would fit the 1920s Great Gatsby theme of our wedding perfectly,” says Meagan. Friends and family flew in from all over the globe to take part in the event and the evening did not disappoint. The stunning architecture and décor of the Ballroom at Church St. was stunning enough on its own, leading the couple to go light on the decorations. They chose a color palette of gold and neutrals to complement the elegant reception space, adding sophisticated, yet statement-making arrangements of cascading orchids, hydrangeas and feathers to each table. The favors spoke to the Gatsby theme as well, the couple sending guests home with personalized bottles of Jameson Irish Whiskey wrapped in special Prohibition Era labels.