In Southwest Florida, we have the luxury of every season feeling like summer! A recent wedding we held at La Casa Toscana featured a timeless colour palette of cream, light blue, and greenery. Bringing in light or neutral colours keeps us feeling cool in the Florida sun…”
Brianna Gates, Founder, Faithful Weddings
Brianna Gates is the founder of Faithful Weddings, bringing over 13 years of experience in the wedding and events industry, underpinned by a background in resort and hospitality management. Based in Naples, Florida, she and her team specialise in everything from day-of coordination to full-service wedding planning, working across intimate elopements and large-scale destination weddings throughout Southwest Florida. Her driving philosophy is straightforward: do everything possible to make an event successful – and ensure that effort is felt by every client and vendor in the room. Here we discuss the challenges of producing a cool, calm, beautiful, and elegant event under the intense Florida sun…
C&B: “Brianna, your location has many wonderful locations for a special event or wedding; which are your particular favourites?”
BG: “After designing and planning 200+ weddings, it is not lost on us that we’ve made some great vendor and venue partnerships over the years. Our team and our couples are loving La Casa Toscana, La Playa Golf & Beach Resort, Hideaway Beach Club, The Strand, and The Ritz Carlton Naples…”
Our favourite flower during the summer season are roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, and peonies are always a go-to, layered with amaranthus, fern, and trailing ivy for that lush, just-picked feel. We love when florals spill naturally over arches, tables, and ceremony structures rather than sitting in rigid arrangements…”
Brianna Gates, Founder, Faithful Weddings
C&B: “What would you say are key elements to consider when designing a luxurious special occasion inspired by the beauty of nature?”
BG: “Lighting can be one of the most underrated details. We recommend leaning into natural golden hour light and layering in soft candlelight and bistro strings music as the evening transitions. Combining lounge furniture with umbrellas to provide shade is a simple yet impactful way to elevate your guest experience, keeping the atmosphere relaxed and beautiful while ensuring everyone remains comfortable throughout the day…”
C&B: “Which colour palettes do you typically recommend that evoke a sense of freshness and elegance during this time of year?”
BG: “We love soft ivory and sage pairings, warm terracotta with dusty rose, and the timeless combination of white and deep forest green. For couples looking for something timeless and traditional, a black-and-white wedding with pops of silver or gold is always a go-to…”
C&B: “Can you share some innovative ideas for outdoor settings that enhance the overall experience for guests?”
BG: “We love creating distinct ‘moments’ throughout an outdoor property – champagne walls, curated cocktails near the garden, a sparkler exit in a classic getaway car (or golf cart)…”
C&B: “And what type of entertainment do you suggest to complement a refined gathering during the summer season?”
BG: “Live musicians are one of our favourite ways to elevate any event – violin, keyboard, or saxophone during the ceremony and cocktail hour is always a vibe! We pair that with a high-energy band or curated DJ for the reception, and love adding interactive moments like a champagne tower too…”
We love encouraging couples to start with their favourite drink and give it a fun, personalised name. Prickly Pear Margarita, Spritzes, or Lavender Lemonade Mocktail are perfect options. Many of our couples have started to brand their wedding bar with signage, personalised match boxes, napkins, and even going as far as serving welcome drinks in a coconut. We love the creativity of our couples and really encourage them to have fun in this area…”
Brianna Gates, Founder, Faithful Weddings
C&B: “Talking of the finer details, what tips can you offer for curating luxurious favour options that reflect the essence of this time of year?”
BG: “At Faithful Weddings, we actually encourage couples to redirect favour budget dollars toward guest experiences instead – you will get far more bang for your buck and guests will remember how your wedding felt over what they took home…”
CREDITS:
Tiffany Maysonet Photography
La Casa Toscana
CONTACT: http://www.faithful-weddings.com
