String Lights, Pasta, and Late-Night Fries: A Bradenton Backyard Celebration
Taylor (she/her) and Courtney’s (she/her) wedding in Bradenton, Florida, had everything you’d want in a backyard celebration: comfort, community, and just the right amount of chaos. A hurricane nearly derailed the plans, but their family rallied, the yard was cleared, and the dance floor ended up buzzing to Dolly Parton and Lady Gaga by nightfall. With Sam Copland Photo behind the camera, the day struck the perfect balance of relaxed and intentional. Add in a foot washing ritual, a dip kiss, and a late-night McDonald’s run for fries and Coke, and you’ve got a Florida backyard wedding that feels as personal and real as it gets.
How did your love story begin?
We actually grew up in the same hometown of Sarasota, Florida, and even went to the same middle school. In high school, we were both on the rifle team at our military academy. The summer before Courtney’s junior year and Taylor’s senior year, we started talking more over Instagram after Courtney came out. That summer we went to rifle camp together and became close friends. Taylor once swam to the bottom of a lake just to bring Courtney the biggest rock she could find, and yes, we still have it.
On October 13, 2017, Taylor asked Courtney to homecoming. Our school didn’t have one, so Courtney replied with, “but I’ll go to military ball with you.” From there, it all just unfolded. We dated long distance when Courtney went to school in Texas, but Taylor eventually transferred there too. Eventually we moved back to Florida so Courtney could work on her master’s while Taylor joined a local nonprofit.
Why did you choose Courtney’s parents’ backyard in Bradenton as your venue?
The house is now a vacation rental, but it was the perfect place for us. We wanted the day to feel comfortable, intimate, and relaxed. It was special to spend the whole weekend there surrounded by our people.
What inspired the vibe of your day?
We didn’t want anything fussy. A pasta bar from Curated Catering Events felt right, since it’s comforting and a crowd-pleaser. Our cake from Cakes By Ron added a sweet touch with a vintage heart-shaped design. Honestly, we barely ate because we were too busy talking with guests. On the way home, we stopped at McDonald’s for fries and a large Coke, which was the perfect ending.
You had a big challenge leading up to the wedding. How did you handle it?
A hurricane made landfall in Florida shortly before the wedding, leaving everyone unsure if the day could go ahead. Our family and community really showed up. Courtney’s dad immediately went to work clearing the backyard, people changed flights, friends did airport pickups, and everyone stayed positive. Having so much support made all the difference.
Walk us through the ceremony.
We shared a room the night before because we knew we’d never sleep apart. The morning was calm with mimosas and hair and makeup by Brides by Kelly Anne. Courtney even plucked Taylor’s eyebrows before they got ready. Courtney wore a gown from Truly Forever Bridal, while Taylor’s suit was from Milano Exchange. We had a private first look and read our vows in Courtney’s childhood bedroom.
Our officiant, Jason Champion, led the ceremony, but instead of traditional vows we washed each other’s feet. It symbolized equality, humility, and unconditional love. Our three-year-old nephew shouted, “I already had a bath,” which cracked everyone up. At the end of the ceremony, Courtney dipped Taylor for our first kiss as a married couple.
What music filled your dance floor?
Our first dance was to “Islands in the Stream” by Dolly Parton, who was also quoted in our ceremony. After that, Noah Grey Music kept everyone on their feet with ABBA, Queen, Chappell Roan, and Lady Gaga. We also had live acoustic performances by Emily Roff Music, which added another special layer to the day.
Did you adapt any traditions to fit you as a couple?
Yes. Taylor walked down the aisle first, followed by Courtney, which felt more like us. Both of our dads walked us down. Our bridal party walked in alone and then sat down for the ceremony, so they could fully take it in. For parent dances, we both danced with both of our parents, which was a surprise to our moms. We skipped the bouquet and garter toss because it didn’t feel right for us.
Which vendors stood out to you?
Honestly, all of them. Getting married so soon after a hurricane was no small thing, and everyone showed up for us. Our caterer Curated Catering Events and florist LilyBella Floral gave us extra time to confirm whether the wedding was going ahead, which was a huge relief. And our planners at Jennifer Matteo Event Planning worked tirelessly to make sure the day came together.
The sweetest touches came from our cake by Cakes By Ron, our rings from Jess Jewelers, and Taylor’s suit from Milano Exchange. Courtney’s gown from Truly Forever Bridal tied everything together with timeless style.
Tell us about your photographer.
We found Sam Copland Photo through our planner’s recommendation and couldn’t have been happier. Taylor is a little camera shy, so it was important that we felt comfortable. Sam was incredible at that. We had an engagement session with them before the wedding, which helped us feel more at ease on the big day.
How did you approach wedding planning and your budget?
We used an Excel spreadsheet to track everything. We decided early on what mattered most to us. Flowers from LilyBella Floral were important, but we didn’t care much about table settings, so we used the caterer’s plates. Photos were a priority, so we invested in those rather than a videographer. Our advice would be to talk through what feels worth the money and let go of what doesn’t.
Photography by Sam Copland Photo
Cake Maker Cakes By Ron
Caterer Curated Catering Events
Celebrant Jason Champion
DJ Noah Grey Music
Dress Boutique Truly Forever Bridal
Florist LilyBella Floral
Hair Stylist Brides by Kelly Anne
Live Music Emily Roff Music
Makeup Brides by Kelly Anne + co
Rings Jess Jewelers
Suit Milano Exchange
Wedding Planner Jennifer Matteo Event Planning
