1. Real Weddings

A Whimsical Tropical Themed Wedding at The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club in Naples, Florida

Loren Hargraves (28 and a police officer) and Christopher (Chris) Knight (30 and a pilot) met through Match.com and had their first date in Oxford, En

Loren Hargraves (28 and a police officer) and Christopher (Chris) Knight (30 and a pilot) met through Match.com and had their first date in Oxford, England. While they met overseas, the couple’s wedding, proposal and years of dating spanned beyond borders. Chris proposed on a trip to Las Vegas in 2012 after an evening helicopter ride of the strip. Loren and had stopped at the Eiffel tower restaurant for a seven course meal. Chris proposed after a waiter took their photo. “I didn't realise that he was on one knee. I looked up to see him holding a ring and then asked me to marry him,” says Loren. “I was so surprised and had a few tears while I put the ring on.” When they were still dating, Chris lived in Naples, Florida, for 18 months and Loren would make trips from the United Kingdom to visit him. “Chris took me to the hotel for lunch and we both fell in love with it,” says Loren. “We knew that would be where we would get married.” Loren and Chis had an intimate wedding and sand mixing ceremony at The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club with 34 members of their friends and family. Fuchsia and orange were chosen for the wedding colors. The couple worked to make a celebration that was relaxed and unlike anything their English guests had seen before, says Loren. Both fire dancers and a live singer were present at the reception to entertain their guests.

Loren and Chris’s Outdoor Naples, Florida Ceremony
The couple ended their wedding ceremony with a sand mixing ceremony in their favorite colors, says Lauren.
Chris and his groomsmen wore neutral colored linen suits from with fuchsia ties and orange rose boutonnieres.
Each bridesmaid wore a fuchsia knee-length Alfred Angelo dress with an orange sash. They also wore their hair in updos accented with three purple orchids, says Loren. They carried bouquets of orange roses down the aisle.
Loren carried a cascading bouquet composed of her and her grandmother’s favorite flowers, she says. The bright bouquet was composed of pink and orange roses, green and orchids as well as white hydrangea and greenery.
Loren chose an ivory wedding dress by Victoria Kay with ruching, pearl and crystal detailing as well as a lace overlay on the skirt. She paired it with an elbow length veil that had pearl and crystal trim to complement the dress, says Loren.
The couple decorated their reception with the beach in mind, says Loren. White linens, pink or orange chair sashes and arrangements of candles in cylinder vases were set at each table as pink and orange paper lanterns hung overhead.
Each table included an arrangement of candles, seashells and sand as the centerpiece as well as a personal element. "All of the tables were named after places we had been on holiday as we love to travel," says Loren.
The couple gave their guests glass coasters with a seashell etching as well as the option of orange and pink candy from a candy bar as their wedding favors.
Frosted Packaging and Orange Ribbon Wedding Favors
The couple chose a two-tier almond cake with white chocolate mousse cake as their wedding cake. It was accented with pink and orange ribbon, orchids and two Adirondack chairs.