REBECCA COURTNEY & KYLE COLTRAIN
REBECCA COURTNEY & KYLE COLTRAIN
September 2, 2017 Orlando, Florida Photographed by Victoria Angela Photography
As Rebecca Courtney reflects on meeting Kyle Coltrain during their first year in college, she says she still pinches herself. “There’s so much that stood out about Kyle for me. He’s so handsome, confident, and passionate,” she describes. “He’s such a catch!” As for Kyle, he knew he wanted to marry Rebecca on their first date; the two started discussing their fairy-tale event before they were even officially engaged. “I remember sitting at a bar with him and planning parts of our wedding early on in the relationship,” she notes. Years later, Kyle popped the question at the same luxurious hotel property where the two would exchange vows just four months later.
As the couple began organizing their nuptials, they also received surprising news – Rebecca was pregnant! Not only was the couple excited to wed in Orlando, the city in which they first met, but they were thrilled to also share a “gender reveal” (a celebration/ announcement where they – along with guests – would learn the sex of their baby). “I guess the most surprising part of the planning process was learning I was pregnant and how soon our wedding would end up happening,” admits the bride. “I didn’t even know it was possible to arrange for a dream wedding so quickly, and honestly, it wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing planner.”
The ceremony space was awash in a striking color scheme of burgundy and blush – a combination that the bride fell in love with. Rebecca looked resplendent, wearing a strapless lace gown with modern side cutouts and holding a loosely tied lush bouquet of dahlias, Juliet garden roses, ranunculuses, seeded eucalyptus, and amaranthus. Walking arm in arm with her father, the bride passed under a sequence of stunning garland-like floral arches adorned with draping blooms to meet Kyle. “I was always pretty adamant about there being lots of flowers. I loved the hanging varieties and the blush accents in the bouquets,” Rebecca affirms.
“I didn’t even know
it was possible to arrange for a dream wedding so quickly,
and honestly, it wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing planner.”
The same décor elements were executed throughout the reception area, where 150 guests took their seats to enjoy a lovely sit-down dinner. Tablescapes were dressed in embellished linens and creatively crafted, boasting a variety of both high and low centerpieces. “The tall ones featured a large, free-flowing arrangement of roses, ranunculus blossoms, hydrangeas, astilbe, blush pieris, scabiosa, and hanging amaranthus,” Rebecca illustrates of the pink and marsala-toned blooms. “Smaller designs were placed in a pedestal bowl and surrounded by a halo of votives.” Candlelight and soft lighting reflected off the golden walls of the ballroom providing the romantic, elegant ambience the bride desired.
Since the groom is particularly passionate about music, he worked carefully on selecting a great playlist for the live band. “I made sure to leave my fingerprint on that aspect of the wedding,” Kyle confirms. Before the fête evolved into a full-blown dance party, the new Mr. and Mrs. were humbled to hear loved ones toast them. One of the groom’s favorites was his brother’s, who served as the best man. “It was the best speech I have ever heard,” Kyle describes. “It was amazing!” Later in the evening, as the celebration was drawing to a close, canons erupted with blue-and-white confetti announcing that the newlyweds were expecting a baby boy.
The groom adds that the entire soirée was unforgettable. “[It was] just absolutely gorgeous from the ceremony, to the cocktail hour, to the reception. It was the best, most proud day of my life,” he emphasizes. For the bride, reciting their vows in private during their “first look” was a particularly special moment. “It was just all beautifully memorable,” she confides. “I could not have had a better wedding.” Rebecca and Kyle loved every bit of their big day and plan to enjoy a honeymoon in the near future… after they create memories with their new addition.