A Classic Coastal-Blue Wedding at TPC Sawgrass
Taylor and Nick’s love story began in a place neither of them expected: an Arkansas Razorbacks baseball game in Fayetteville. Nick had traveled to town with friends for a weekend away, while Taylor was finishing school and enjoying a night out with hers. After catching each other’s eye across the stadium, they struck up a playful conversation while cheering on the Razorbacks and joking about the opposing team.
That first conversation continued the following day with an outing to Topgolf and another evening spent together with friends. Despite living nearly 1,000 miles apart, Taylor and Nick recognized that their connection was worth pursuing. What began as a chance meeting at a college baseball game eventually brought their family and friends together for a beautiful July wedding at TPC Sawgrass.
A Timeless Coastal Wedding Design
Taylor and Nick selected a classic, timeless design featuring coastal shades of pale blue and crisp white. The palette complemented the elegant surroundings at TPC Sawgrass while creating a light, refined atmosphere that felt especially appropriate for a summer wedding in Ponte Vedra Beach.
White linens provided a clean foundation for the reception design, while a mixture of floral and candle centerpieces added visual interest throughout the ballroom. Pale blue details appeared in the stationery and other decorative elements, creating a cohesive look without overwhelming the space.
One of the wedding’s most memorable design features was the floral installation along the grand staircase. A Happily Ever Floral placed arrangements on alternating steps, transforming the staircase into a striking focal point. The installation proved to be more than a beautiful decorative choice. When changing weather required many of Taylor and Nick’s portraits to be taken indoors, the flower-lined staircase became an ideal setting for elegant wedding photographs.
A custom seating display by Heather O’Brien Designs greeted guests outside the ballroom. Florals and candlelight completed the display, turning a practical reception detail into another memorable part of the wedding design.
Preparing for a Florida Summer Wedding
Summer weddings in Northeast Florida require thoughtful weather planning. Taylor and Nick’s timeline included a scheduled afternoon weather decision so the planning, venue, floral, and photography teams could respond appropriately.
Rain and shifting conditions ultimately affected portions of the photography schedule. Because the wedding had been planned with both indoor and outdoor opportunities in mind, the team was able to adjust without allowing the weather to overshadow the celebration.
The grand staircase became a beautiful portrait location, and the clubhouse provided additional elegant indoor and outdoor backdrops. Carefully planned timing also allowed the couple to take photographs around the TPC Sawgrass property when conditions permitted.
A strong rain plan is not simply a backup ceremony location. It should also account for portraits, guest movement, vendor setup, floral placement, and any details that may need to be relocated. Creating those plans before the wedding day allows everyone to respond calmly when the weather changes.
Thoughtful Details for the Guest Experience
Taylor and Nick included many personal touches throughout their ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
Programs and fans were placed on the ceremony chairs for guests, an especially thoughtful addition for a July wedding. Cocktail hour included passed prosecco and two signature drinks; personalized napkins, drink stirrers, and custom bar signs completed the presentation.
At each place setting, guests found a menu card, thank-you card, koozie, and a small bag of golf tees—a fitting favor for a wedding at TPC Sawgrass. Memorial photographs honored loved ones who could not be present, while custom signage and personal champagne flutes added meaningful finishing touches.
The reception also included a bourbon bar and a skillet-cookie station later in the evening, giving guests additional experiences to enjoy beyond dinner and dancing.
A Reception Designed for Celebration
COS Celebrations kept the reception energetic with a DJ, saxophonist, and drummer. Taylor and Nick entered the ballroom to an ABBA favorite accompanied by live saxophone, setting the tone for the evening.
Following their first dance, Taylor shared a father-daughter dance with her father, and Nick danced with his mother. Dinner, heartfelt toasts, and the cake cutting led into an open dance floor that remained lively throughout the reception.
The evening ended with a final dance for all guests, followed by a private last dance for Taylor and Nick. While their guests prepared for the sparkler send-off, the newlyweds had a few quiet moments together in the ballroom before departing in their getaway car.
Wedding Planning and Coordination at TPC Sawgrass
Taylor and Nick were true partners throughout the planning process. It was a pleasure to work closely with both of them as they made decisions and prepared for the wedding.
On the wedding day, changing weather and a delayed ceremony-chair setup required the coordination team to adjust quickly. Once the chairs were in place, our team worked efficiently to place programs and fans on every chair while the floral designer installed the aisle flowers. These are the kinds of behind-the-scenes moments guests rarely see, but they are also why experienced wedding coordination is so valuable.
Taylor and Nick later shared:
“We had the privilege of having Heather be our wedding planner for our recent wedding at TPC Sawgrass.
Heather and her team did an outstanding job of taking care of absolutely every detail that went into creating a perfect night for us.
From the in-person meetings, phone calls, text messages, to always being able to provide clarity and answers, Heather was as steady as they come.
For us, Heather’s expertise with TPC Sawgrass and familiarity with our other vendors brought us even more peace and trust in her leading up to the wedding.
She’s a highly touted professional in her industry and we would absolutely choose Heather if we had to do it all over again.
If you have the opportunity to have Heather join your special day, please do it. She added tremendous value and was everything and more that we needed and thought she would be for us.”
We were honored to help bring their timeless coastal wedding to life and to make sure they could enjoy the celebration they had planned.
Jacksonville Wedding Vendor Team
Wedding Planning and Coordination: First Coast Weddings and Events
Venue: TPC Sawgrass
Photography: J. Mosley Photography
Floral Design: A Happily Ever Floral
Entertainment and Photo Booth: COS Celebrations
Seating Display: Heather O’Brien Designs
Wedding Cake: Classic Cakes
Makeup: Kiara Shannelle Makeup Artistry
Hair: Christy Hagler
Transportation: Barrs Transportation and Jax Party Bus
Valet: The Auto Valet
Wedding Gown: Kelly Faetanini from The White Magnolia Bridal Collection
Bridesmaid Dresses: Birdy Grey
Stationery: Zola
