New Year’s Eve Wedding – 1 Year Later
Gloria and Andy started off 2020 as a newly married couple, after saying ‘I do’ the day before at their New Year’s Eve wedding at Sundial. With the help of Lavender and the whole Sundial team, this Cincinnati couple made many treasured memories at the island resort. We checked back in with Gloria as she and Andy passed the first-anniversary milestone and she reflected on her beautiful beach experience, tying two families into one on her big day.
How did you meet?
Andy and I first met in 2006, when he coached little league baseball and our sons were on the same team. We were newly single parents who were not quite ready to date anyone. Fast forward to 2015, when Andy and I ran into one another at the store. We started talking in the toy aisle and continued to the check-out. We messaged each other that evening and made plans for a first date on New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve is now the anniversary of our first date and our wedding.
How did he propose?
Andy and I have found a very special place called Snug Hollow Bed and Breakfast. Once or twice a year, we like to get away there for a weekend. We made plans for a fall weekend at Snug Hollow. Once we arrived, Andy and I sat down to dinner and dessert. After dinner, Andy pulled out these special mugs he had made. He showed me one of them with a picture of us appearing on it and set the other on the table. He kept insisting that I look at the mug. I told him that I would see it in the morning, when we have coffee, but he was insistent regarding me looking at the mug. As the picture on the mug began to appear, I had to look closer at what it read; “Turn Around”. I was clearly confused and with my back turned, said to Andy, “It says turn around”. As I said this, I turned around, and Andy was on bended knee with a ring in hand. He asked me to marry him, and of course, I said YES!
Describe your wedding style:
Our wedding style can best be described as traditional and classic with a mix of natural and relaxed.
What was your inspiration behind your wedding dress and your bridal party’s attire?
I wanted something long and white with 3/4 length sleeves, modesty in the chest and back, and, of course, some sparkly embellishments to catch the sunlight! I could not have found a more perfect dress!
My maid of honor chose a dress that was comfortable, long in length, and she could wear again in the future. The color black was chosen for the maid of honor, my mom’s dress, and all the guys suits, in order to really show all the bright colors of the flowers, the natural colors on the beach, and the blue colors of the ocean and sky.
What were some of your favorite details about your wedding?
Everything about our wedding was our absolute favorite! Our top favorite detail was sharing our special day with our family and closest friends! We had a wonderfully intimate wedding of less than 20 people. Our wedding was on New Year’s Eve and we were blessed to ring in the New Year with our family and friends.
Our next favorite detail was the location! We love the beach, and truly loved Sundial Beach Resort & Spa. Everyone at the resort was so welcoming and helpful. We especially loved working with Lavender. She made all of the stressful moments seem calm and enjoyable. Some stand out moments include: all the preparation before our wedding day, walking us through the timeline during our rehearsal, keeping all of us on time throughout the wedding day, making our friends and family feel welcome during the cocktail hour, saving some cocktails for Andy and me to try after our pictures, and making sure Andy and I took a moment for a champagne toast to celebrate our nuptials. We felt so special and blessed!
We appreciated the whole team that made our wedding possible: Rev. Russ Winn, who officiated our vows; DJ Diego with Black Tie Entertainment as we smashed cake in each other’s face to the tune of Cake by the Ocean by DNCE (how fitting); and especially Molly who captured fabulous photos of the beach and my experience with family and friends in the privacy of the Lace Murex Lawn, at the Sundial Resort.
What were some memorable moments from your wedding day?
We had three big memorable moments on our wedding day. The first memorable moment would be standing in front of our family and especially our children, saying, “I Do” and blending two families into one.
The second memorable moment would be hearing our Maid of Honor and Best Man give their truly heartfelt speeches. We love them so very much!
The third memorable moment would be our final dance of the reception, where our family and friends circled around Andy and I, while we danced together to the song; Don’t Stop Believin by Journey.
Why did you choose Sundial as your wedding venue?
We chose Sundial Resort as our venue because the resort was so accommodating and welcoming. The pictures of the resort, beach, and weddings were absolutely beautiful. Everyone we spoke and interacted with were very helpful. Lavender put us at ease while planning our wedding from Cincinnati, Ohio. She responded to our emails within an afternoon or evening. She was able to provide knowledgeable and helpful information when questions arose. She made us feel special and let us know that we are part of the Sundial family and we believe the Sundial Resort has become part of our family as well!
Would you recommend Sundial Resort to other couples? Why?
I would absolutely recommend Sundial Resort to any couple looking into getting married on the beach on Sanibel Island. Sundial Resort is such a special place for couples and families to enjoy. There is so much beach to explore and the Resort has so many activities for couples and families to participate in. We can’t wait to return to Sundial Resort for future vacations with our family!
What advice would you give to future bride and grooms to be?
My best advice is to always ask questions. Lavender was such a wonderful resource of information concerning the resort and wedding planning from afar. I felt at ease while planning our New Year’s Eve beach wedding.
Vendors:
Hair & Makeup – Kay Casperson Lifestyle Spa & Boutique
Photographer – Valley Ridge Photography
Officiant – Reverend Russ Winn
Entertainment – Black Tie Entertainment
Start planning your Sundial wedding today!
