A Casual Beach Wedding at the The Grand Plaza Hotel Beachfront Resort and Conference Center in St. Pete Beach, Florida

Joylynn Thomas (30 and a stylist) and Jon Marsley (32 and a teacher) got engaged two years after meeting through OkCupid when Jon popped the question in New York City. The couple was on a walk in Central Park when Jon stopped to  take a picture of Joylynn. Instead, he went down on one knee. Within a year, the couple planned a beach wedding in St. Pete Beach, Florida. “Our color palette was turquoise and lavender, reflecting the lightness and beauty of the morning wedding on the beach,” says Jon. “It didn't take much for us to decide on the colors. They simply felt 'right' when seeing them side by side - nice and simple, soft and serene.” Turquoise and white were reflected most in the couple's beach wedding. Starfish accents were hung on turquoise ribbon along the Joylynn and Jon's ceremony aisle. They were wed around 11 a.m. under a white fabric draped arch with palm trees on either side. The natural beach setting was carried into the couple’s indoor cocktail hour and reception. “With beautiful full-length windows overlooking the beach and beautiful weather outside, the view was spectacular,” says Jon. Each guest found his or her seat in the sun-filled room with the help of a seashell accented place card. White linen covered tables were accented with clear glass pedestal vases. Each centerpiece was filled with sand, sea shells and starfish. To complete the beach theme, Joylynn and Jon served a three-tier white wedding cake accented with a seashell topper and neutral toned dots to reflect the sand. After the cake was cut, the celebration continued. Joylynn, Jon and their guests went back to the beach for an afternoon filled with swimming and fun. “When we thought of having a beach wedding, it's really what we had envisioned,” says Jon. “Just a small group of those that mean the most to us, all in one place, enjoying the company and the surroundings.”