A Traditional Military Wedding at Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club in Celebration, Florida

Erin Hinojosa (26 and a second grade teacher) and Daniel Porris (27 and a captain in the US Army) first met through mutual friends at Florida State University, reconnected during his first deployment to Afghanistan and became engaged at her work. Daniel and their immediate families surprised Erin by pulling up to her school in a limo before he dropped to one knee, popped the question and took her for a photo shoot. “I loved every single second of it and replay it in my head all the time,” says Erin. The couple spent the next 15 months planning a royal purple, blush and gold wedding with glitter accents. “Glitter was a major staple, and if it was considered a color it would be the first one listed,” says Erin. “We called our theme 'rustic elegance.'" Her friend from Two Peas Events helped the couple to decorate Erin’s family’s church, Resurrection Catholic Church, with baby’s breath tied to each pew as well as two arrangements at the altar composed of white and pink orchids alongside lush greenery. After the couple exchanged vows, their celebration continued into Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club with a DIY-accented reception. Each round table was covered with gold glitter runners and handmade illuminated gold branch centerpieces that were either made or found by the bride, her mother and mother-in-law. After a sit-down dinner, all enjoyed an ornate three-tier gold chevron and pearl wedding cake designed by Erin and Party Flavors Custom Cakes. It was topped with cascading purple orchids. “There were little touches of the two of us everywhere in the reception and the whole wedding-planning process,” says Erin. “It was extremely important to us that our wedding and reception was unique and personal.”