A Traditional Wedding at Naples Sailing and Yacht Club in Naples, Florida

Julie Balzer (27) and Barton Balzer (27) met through mutual friends twice in 2011 -- at a concert and later at a party -- and became engaged within a year. After a stressful day, the couple was enjoying a night of sailing when Bart popped the question with a gold princess-cut diamond ring. “The happy tears switched on! It was a beautiful proposal, and I loved that he surprised me,” says Julie. They spent 11 months planning a traditional seafoam green and coral wedding with nautical and polka-dot accents. “We tried to balance having a traditional church wedding with wanting a bit of a casual feel,” says Julie. The aisle at Saint Ann Catholic Church was lined with baby’s breath inside copper canisters. After they exchanged vows, Julie and Bart acknowledged their engagement with a yacht ride recessional around Naples Bay. “We love to be outside enjoying the water as much as possible,” says Julie. Their 190 guests went to the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club for a tiki bar cocktail hour filled with extra dirty "Carr-tini" martinis and “Captain Balzer” rum and Coke cocktails. The indoor reception was accented with locally grown orchid centerpieces the couple handpicked and potted, polka-dot table numbers and frosted blue candles. After a surf-and-turf dinner, all were treated to a three-tier Funfetti wedding cake decorated with Julie’s favorite pattern, polka dots, and topped with two manatees. But the wedding still had a few things even Bart did not expect. “I surprised Bart with wedge high-tops during the garter toss. He has an affinity for high-tops and I always tease him about them, so I wanted to show my support and love for his unique sense of style,” says Julie. The couple spent the night taking a few pictures in their photo booth and dancing with their guests before each left with a custom seafoam koozie.