Hi friends, and welcome if you’ve found me through Over the Moon! I’m Stephanie, the voice behind The Style Bungalow. Today, I want to share the story of how our two weddings came to be — a journey filled with unexpected twists, a few tears, a lot of laughter, and ultimately, more gratitude than I could have ever imagined.
First, a little disclaimer: while I absolutely loved marrying my husband (twice!), the planning process was far from seamless. Pandemic weddings come with their fair share of hiccups — from supply chain mishaps to last-minute changes and an undercurrent of stress that seemed to hang in the air. The truth is, no wedding is perfect. And in an era when Instagram makes everything appear picture-perfect, I think it’s important to remember this: what matters most is not the flowers, the dress, or even the venue, but the lifetime of plot twists and joys that follow after the big day. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the lessons, or the love, for anything.
The Original Plan
In 2019, we announced our plans to get married in Mérida, Mexico. We wanted something special — something meaningful that felt like us. After much searching, we fell in love with a charming hacienda built in 1908, once a bustling sisal factory, now lovingly restored. It was everything we dreamed of: steeped in history, full of character, and brimming with that magical Mérida charm.
But as we worked through the logistics, reality hit: my husband’s grandmother, who has been a cornerstone in his life, wouldn’t be able to travel. At 94, the trip was too difficult, and it didn’t feel right to celebrate without her. So, we decided to host a small, intimate ceremony in Miami first — in the very same church where my parents had been married 34 years ago. It felt symbolic, like a beautiful thread weaving generations together.
The vision was simple: a quiet day, a classic gown without a designer label, hair and makeup done by me, and a petite bouquet in hand. My husband would wear one of his favorite suits. Our families would gather to witness our vows, and afterward, we’d toast over lunch at one of our favorite restaurants.
Enter the Pandemic
Then 2020 arrived. And with it, lockdowns, constant uncertainty, and what felt like a revolving door of changing plans. One week it was, “Maybe we’ll be fine by summer,” and the next it was, “We just don’t know when things will get better.” Like so many couples that year, we were forced to postpone our Mexico wedding to November 2021.
It was heartbreaking, but we kept perspective. We had our health, our families, and work we were grateful for. A wedding, we reminded ourselves, could wait. And as our photographer, KT Merry, wisely said to me one day: “Why not treat the Miami wedding as the appetizer to the real thing?” That shifted everything.
Planning the Miami Ceremony
Still, planning any wedding — even a small one — can feel overwhelming. Now add a pandemic, a recent move into our first home together, and the challenges of running a small business during one of the hardest years of our lives. To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement.
One evening, after yet another frustrating planning session, I broke down and emailed Heather Lowenthal of Posh Parties, one of South Florida’s top wedding planners. I wrote something along the lines of, “Hi Heather, we’ve never met, but I’m desperate. I don’t know what I’m doing. Please help.”
To my surprise (and immense relief), she said yes. Despite being used to planning extravagant, large-scale weddings, Heather stepped into our tiny ceremony with so much grace and kindness. She carried my stress when I couldn’t, solved problems I didn’t know how to handle, and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Working with her was not just seamless — it was therapeutic.
A Backyard Reception
As our plans continued to shift, one idea finally clicked. Instead of dining out at a restaurant — which had become a logistical nightmare thanks to fluctuating restrictions — why not celebrate in our own backyard?
We had recently moved into a charming little 1920s bungalow in Miami, a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home with plenty of quirks and character. With little furniture and an untouched backyard, it didn’t seem like the obvious choice. But one afternoon, while working from home, I looked out at that space with fresh eyes. What if we transformed it into something magical?
And so, we did.
The Takeaway
When I look back now, our Miami wedding wasn’t what I imagined when I first started planning. It wasn’t the big celebration in Mérida with all our friends and family gathered together. It was small, imperfect, and full of compromises. But it was also deeply personal, brimming with love, and perfectly ours.
I think that’s the beauty of weddings — they reflect who you are in that moment. And sometimes, life has a way of redirecting us toward something even more meaningful than what we originally envisioned.
So to all the brides (and grooms) navigating uncertainty, postponements, or the chaos of planning: remember this. The wedding is just the beginning. The real adventure — the marriage — is where the magic truly unfolds.
Next week, I’ll share more about our Mexico celebration. Until then, I’d love to hear from you — what surprised you most about your own wedding, or what do you imagine will matter most when your big day comes?
