1. Real Weddings

An Autumn Wedding in Orlando, FL

Erin and Alex can credit their relationship to the thoughtful matchmaking skills of Alex’s sister, Windsor. Erin and Windsor were college friends and

Erin and Alex can credit their relationship to the thoughtful matchmaking skills of Alex’s sister, Windsor. Erin and Windsor were college friends and she set them up when Alex needed a date to his naval ROTC ball. Two weeks after the dance, Erin and Alex happened to be visiting Windsor in D.C. on the same weekend. They continued to hit it off and started dating. The Bride Erin Perkins, 26, a barista The Groom Alex Stone, 22, a naval officer The Date October 23 A year and a half later, Alex proposed on the grounds near Lake Eola. Erin was equal parts excited and embarrassed (people were staring!), and a flustered Alex put the ring on the wrong hand. They celebrated with dinner at Norman’s at the Ritz-Carlton and stayed over for a romantic night.

Candied apples in four flavors (apple pie, peanut butter, triple chocolate, and dark chocolate) were given out as a sweet snack for the road.
Erin surprised Alex with a cake that represented a mix of things from his life: his favorite leather chair and ottoman, his military hat, two mini naval magazines, and a Gordon setter dog -- the same breed of dog they both had growing up.
The eight-piece band played Bob Marley’s “Is This Love?” while the couple had their first dance as husband and wife.
A four-foot dragonwood tree -- mixed with hypericum berries, oak leaves, poppies, and other woodsy finds -- towered over more lanterns, mini gourds, and the bridal party.
The three-tiered square cake was topped with real flowers and two gum paste owls, which were made by Erin’s friend Courtney.
Erin wanted an autumn wedding (it’s her favorite season) and they had just six months to plan. Everything came together with sangria-colored bridesmaid dresses, brown and sage linens, and red, burgundy, gold, and chocolate flowers.
Cards with table assignments were pinned onto seasonal white mini pumpkins.
As a homage to Erin’s love for birds and Alex’s training to become a naval aviator, the couple decided to name each table after types of birds that are also military aircrafts, such as hummingbird, condor, and blackhawk.
The bride’s bouquet was full of fall colors—red and orange dahlias, spider gerbera daisies, hypericum berries, large orange chrysanthemums, magnolia leaves, and more. Each bridesmaid carried an arrangement with a single type of flower from the bride’s bouquet.
The Estate House at Cypress Grove had tons of outdoor space with a rose garden, lots of trees and a nearby lake. “It also had plenty of room for a tent just in case of bad weather,” says Erin.
Alex matched Erin’s flowers with orange and red dahlias, accented with seeded eucalyptus and a magnolia leaf with its underside exposed.
Lanterns with candles hung along the aisle on shepherd’s hooks, which were wrapped in twigs and brightly colored leaves.