Tell us about your big day!:

Katie: I was born and raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, while Kevin grew up in Minnesota, where we now live. With friends and family scattered across the country, we knew we wanted our wedding to feel like a true getaway — a place where we could relax, spend the weekend surrounded by our closest loved ones, and create lasting memories together.

When we toured The Pearl in Rosemary Beach, we instantly knew it had everything we were looking for — European charm with modern elegance.

We kicked off the weekend on Friday night with a Welcome Party bonfire on the beach, just steps from the main beach access in Rosemary. Wandering Spirits set up a bar and created incredible specialty cocktails just for us — their team was amazing to work with.

On Saturday morning, the girls got ready across the street from The Pearl with brunch, mimosas, and hair and makeup by the talented team at Kendra Scott. I worked with Carol Rice, who completely understood my vision and brought it to life. The boys spent the morning at the Seaglass Cottage House, grilling steak and lobster by the pool as they got ready for the big day.

We chose to do a private first look — just the two of us — so we could share that emotional moment in an intimate setting and then enjoy more of the wedding together. The moment was filled with anticipation and joy — we couldn’t stop smiling once we saw each other.

Our ceremony began with passed Champagne at 4:00, followed by vows at 4:30 overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. My best friend officiated the ceremony — she’s known us both since the very beginning, and hearing her heartfelt words for the first time as we stood there made it all the more meaningful. My mother walked me down the aisle, which was such a special moment. We also wrote our own vows, which had us — and all of our guests — both laughing and crying together. It was one of the most emotional and memorable parts of the day.

Carly from Showtime Events perfectly captured the design aesthetic we envisioned — elegant with a touch of artsy chaos. Inspired by The Pearl’s iconic golden-yellow umbrellas by the pool, we carried that hue throughout the design. The reception featured monochromatic golden-yellow florals along the head table and guest tables, with yellow-and-white striped draping above that tied everything together beautifully. I love candles, so Carly filled the tables with a mix of tall candelabras and low tea lights for a warm, glowing ambiance. Kevin designed the artwork for a custom card we placed at each seat, and on the back we handwrote a personal note to every guest, thanking them for being part of our day. We also designed matching striped matchbooks and hand fans for the ceremony area. The ceremony area was draped in all-white florals and fabric, keeping it timeless and classic.

Our signature cocktails were named after our cats: The Olivia (an Aperol Spritz) and The Fitzgerald (a dirty gin martini). The espresso martini was another crowd favorite! Dinner featured Gulf fish, a beef tenderloin carving station, sweet potato au gratin, and Brussels sprouts — the culinary team at The Pearl truly exceeded expectations, and our guests couldn’t stop raving about the food.

After toasts from Kevin’s dad, my maid of honor, and the best man, we opened the dance floor with a group first dance to Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” We wanted everyone to join us right away and set a joyful tone for the night. The dance floor came alive with white light-up sticks, oversized cutouts of our cats, and even Terrible Towels (a Pittsburgh tradition!) — it was high energy from start to finish.

When the reception wrapped, we weren’t ready for the night to end. We hosted an after-party at Hemingway’s Bar & Grill downstairs at The Pearl, complete with a Lumi Pod photo booth, sing-alongs to our favorite songs, honey butter chicken biscuits, and a French fry bar with dipping sauces — the perfect late-night touch to close out our dream weekend.