Photos: Stacy Reeves

Ali and Rob met during freshman year at Florida State University. "We had a course together, and one day I saw him in the elevator and asked if I could borrow his notes to catch up on a class I'd missed," says Ali. "He immediately judged me for skipping class—and we've been together pretty much ever since!"

The couple hosted their wedding at Red Fish Grill, a restaurant located near a lagoon Ali often visited as a child. The ceremony was held at Matheson Hammock Park, on the beach adjacent to the restaurant.

The wedding colors were a nod to the bride's and groom's backgrounds: "Since my family is Cuban, we picked orange for a tropical touch," says Ali. "Rob grew up near Hershey, PA—so that's the chocolate brown." The reception tables featured a variety of centerpieces made up of birds of paradise, orchids, and bamboo reeds, and other tropical flowers and foliage. "Most of our families live scattered across the country, so having them together at the same place was unreal," says Ali. "It meant so much to us."

Follow the jump to see more from Ali and Rob's wedding, visit our Real Weddings page to find other great style ideas, and search our local listings to find wedding vendors near you.

Photos: Gertrude & Mabel Photography

Although they live in New York City, Erica and Guillaume chose to host their wedding at Cà d'Zan Mansion, on Sarasota Bay. "Since many guests would be traveling to the wedding from overseas and from other parts of the US, we wanted to pick a destination where they could extend their visit into a mini vacation," Erica says.

The reception took place on the terrace, overlooking the bay. During cocktail hour, drinks that reflected the couple's nationalities—such as the French "martini blanc" and French and American beer and wine—were served. The couple worked with Maria Brady on the wedding details. Centerpieces were comprised of fiddlehead ferns, hydrangeas, and a variety of other blooms, and each place setting featured a gold-beaded charger and a menu card listing the dinner offerings in both English and French.

Follow the jump to see more from Erica and Guillaume's wedding, and visit our Real Weddings page to find other great style ideas.

Photos: Divine Light Weddings

Brittany and Daniel met in 2003 while working at a restaurant in Tampa where she was a hostess and he was a host and busser; the couple dated for six years before getting engaged. On their wedding day, Brittany wore a gown by Alita Graham, purchased at a sample sale at Kleinfeld. "My style is pretty fashion-forward, so friends thought I'd choose an avant-garde dress--but I actually wanted something classic," says Brittany. "In 20 years, I'd like to look at our wedding photos and still think my gown was tasteful, not trendy." She had tailors at Emelina's Bridal and Boutique modify the gown—originally a halter style—into one with a strapless bodice.

The 2 p.m. ceremony was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and included readings by the maid of honor and best man. Following the ceremony, guests headed to Columbia Restaurant Ybor City for the reception. "Danny is Cuban and Puerto Rican, so we wanted the menu to reflect his ancestry," says Brittany, "and the Columbia serves some of the best Spanish and Cuban food in the city." To see all of Brittany and Daniel's wedding details, check out their full slideshow, and visit our Real Weddings page for more great ideas.

In the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Brides Florida, we announced the winners of our first-ever Editor's Choice Awards.

It's a way for the editorial staff and me to officially recognize the amazing, forward-thinking, art-creating, call-returning, trend-making wedding vendors who inspire and delight us every time we craft an issue of our magazine. And, most importantly, we're excited to share this winning list with all of you—it's a great place to start assembling your dream team. —Julie Raimondi

See the full list of winners after the jump.

Photo: Kyle Ericksen

Nicole Miller, known for her modern, glamorous wedding dresses, invites brides to view the latest additions to her collection at a trunk show May 13-15 at her boutique in South Beach. The newest designs from the spring collection will be available to preview and purchase, and are surprisingly well priced, ranging from $1,200 to $3,200. Fabrics from her line include heavy silk, crepe de Chine and hand-beaded lace. Aside from selecting your wedding gown, you can also accessorize with Nicole Miller evening bags, headpieces, shoes and jewelry. The trunk show is by appointment only, so RSVP by May 10 by emailing NMMiami@NicoleMiller.com, and don't forget to view Nicole Miller's latest collection in our runway gallery.—Mary Beth Somich

Photo: Conde Nast Digital Studio

Looking for a gown that's grand and glamorous? Check out St. Pucchi's brand new Spring 2012 collection at a trunk show at The Collection in Winter Park, Florida, this Friday, April 29th through Saturday, April 30th. And best of all, you'll have the chance to get 10 percent off a St. Pucchi gown purchased during the event. I particularly loved this sheer coat from the most recent collection—totally boho-glam. To make an appointment for this fabulous trunk show, call The Collection at 407-740-6003, and check out our slideshow of St. Pucchi's brand-new collection here.—Kim Forrest, Brides Florida

Florida brides, find vendors near you in our local resource guide.

Photo: Gina Leigh Photography

"John and I wanted a venue with an 'Old Florida' feel," says Jessica. The couple visited the Powel Crosley Estate and fell in love with the beautiful Mediterranean Revival-style mansion. On their wedding day, Jessica wore a Melissa Sweet gown from Malindy Elene. "When I tried it on for the first time, my father cried," she says. "That was all I needed." She carried a lush bouquet of peonies and lavender. The ceremony was held in the estate's open-air pavilion. Dancing was held on the patio overlooking the bay. The couple chose Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life" for their first dance. A DJ from Inspire Entertainment provided the evening's music. At one point friends started a dance-off, and before long everyone had joined in. "It was an all-ages dance party," Jessica says. For more from Jessica and John's wedding, see the full slideshow.

Photo: Vue Photography

Johanna and Jimmy met while hottubbing at a Colorado resort. Seven years later, Jimmy proposed in New Orleans, where Johanna was attending law school. The couple decided to marry in Jimmy's home state of Florida. "We wanted to start our married life in a place that radiated natural beauty, Southern elegance, and love," says Johanna. The ceremony and reception were held at the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. The 5:30 p.m. ceremony was held in the property's fruit grove. Johanna wore a Melissa Sweet gown and a custom made bolero, fashioned from lace from her gown, during the ceremony. The chairs along the aisle were adorned with mason jars filled with stock and orchids. For more details from the wedding, see the full slideshow.

Photo: Fairchild Archive

Here's a bachelor party service everyone can agree on: the Beer Butler.

John Rudolph at the Boca Raton Resort & Club hosts a beer tasting that pairs regional American craft brews with four courses of food from 501 East. Rudolph designed the tasting for a party of at least 25, but 501 East's private dining room holds up to 40 if you're feeling ambitious. The beers include everything from pumpkin ales to chocolate stouts and accompany a wide range of food, from a pretzel burger to sashimi tuna. The service begins at $95 per person and a fee of $175 for the Beer Butler. For more information, visit the Boca Raton Resort & Club website.—Phillip B. Crook

Photo: Courtesy of CakeShooters

See more wedding cake alternative ideas in our Cakes Gallery.

Photos: Courtesy of The Brazilian Court

Florida is already a hot spot for destination weddings, but if you already live in the area and want to have the feeling of an otherworldly wedding without having to leave home consider The Brazilian Court in Palm Beach. Their lush courtyard combines sun and palm trees with Spanish-Mediterranean architecture to create an oasis for posh parties.

The property has a variety of event spaces to choose from, including a formal ballroom, conservatory, and outside terrace, as well as a Frederic Fekkai Salon that will make sure you and your bridesmaids look their best for your wedding.

Perhaps best of all is the exquisite cuisine that you can serve your guests from Cafe Boulud, which is located right on the premises. Their expert staff of culinary masters can tailor a menu for you based on your specific taste and needs (though we can tell you absolutely everything there is wonderful). Contact Denise Mariani at 561-366-4462 for more information. —Cari Wolfert

Photo: Amy Hill Photography

We couldn't help but share this uber-festive wedding cake that was submitted by one of our readers. For their wedding last winter, Stephanie and Joshua served guests a gingerbread house wedding cake that was accented with two figurines purchased from The Shop in Micanopy, FL.

Looking for more Christmas wedding ideas? Get inspiration from a holiday-themed reception, browse style ideas, and see our favorite picks for Christmas-themed registry items. —Cari Wolfert

Courtesy of Anais Collezioni

The St. Pucchi collection is known for jaw-dropping, couture-inspired wedding dresses. So we were, of course, delighted to hear about a new wedding gown line designed by Rani and her two sons that maintains St. Pucchi's grand, whimsical style, but retails for under $2,000. Called Anais Collezioni, the collection features fashion-forward detailing and modern silhouettes. I'm particularly in love with the dress pictured above—the gold sash accentuates the natural waist, and the silhouette is so flattering. The gowns are already available at stores in 27 states, so visit Anais Collezioni's website for more information on where to find these gorgeous gowns. And don't forget to head over to our dress gallery to see hundreds of amazing wedding dresses.—Kim Forrest