From the Italian Market Welcome Party to the Tiki Bar Reception, Every Element of This Couple's Wedding Weekend Was Unforgettable

Yahoo

14-05-2025

In any other generation, Breezi Harrell, a Texas native, and Leonardo Murri, an Italian living in Austin, may have never crossed paths, but the modern popularity of dating apps made finding each other possible. "Our dating experience was anything but typical, but that seemed to make our bond grow stronger," the couple, who matched just before COVID lockdowns went into effect in Austin, note. "Our relationship quickly took off."
By May of 2023, Leo was ready to propose, and he used a family vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, as the perfect cover story. It ensured that he and Breezi would be at one of her favorite places and that family would be readily available to celebrate the happy news. "A seemingly impromptu walk on the beach led to a private beach cabana filled with flowers and an array of breakfast specialties and mimosa flights arranged by Leonardo," the bride remembers. "After a private breakfast, the family was invited to celebrate."
As they started planning their wedding, one locale became the obvious frontrunner: the idyllic beach town of Seaside, Florida, where Breezi has been vacationing with her family since childhood. "It was essential to me to have everything within the one-mile stretch of the Seaside coastal community where I spent summers vacationing at our family home," the bride says. "I could not wait to introduce Leonardo to Seaside and later celebrate with his family, who came all the way from the hillsides just outside of Rome, Italy."
The couple knew they wanted an unconventional and welcoming celebration, and finding the right team to bring their ideas to life was paramount. After a "far and wide search" for the right wedding planner, Breezi and Leonardo knew they met their match in Heather Balliet of Amorology. From there, Heather and her team worked closely with Breezi and Leonardo to bring their ideas to life, creating an Italian market welcome party followed by a ceremony in the local chapel, a beachside cocktail hour, a Tiki-inspired reception, and a surf bar after-party. "I had a vision for our wedding, but Amorology brought it to life in ways I could have never imagined," the bride notes. "Amorology's attention to detail and expertise made every detail more magical."
Here, see every detail-laden photo of the couple's unique, playful wedding weekend, as photographed by Rebecca Yale Photography.
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Cecile's Paper Co. created all of the paper goods for the wedding weekend, including the couple's pizza-themed save-the-date card and multi-piece invitation suite. On the invitations, colorful borders and patterned inserts nodded at the motifs guests would see throughout the weekend-long celebration, including daisies, which were a nod to the bride's late grandmother. "Daisies were a cherished theme woven throughout the wedding, honoring both my childhood and my late grandmother's favorite flower," the bride notes. "As a child, I was often photographed with daisies, making them a natural choice for my special day."
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The official first event of the weekend was a family-only welcome dinner, when 28 of Leonardo's family members were able to mix, mingle, and explore Seaside alongside Breezi's loved ones. One of the groom's uncle's, a renowned butcher from Rome, hosted a dinner for the entire group, preparing Italian specialities for the two families to enjoy before becoming one. "They were welcomed with open hearts and invited to share an evening of warmth, laughter, and delicious homemade food," Breezi remembers.
The next day, all 200 of the couple's wedding guests joined them for an Italian market-themed welcome party, which took place in Modica's Market, a speciality store in Seaside that famously served as one of the sets for The Truman Show. "Overnight, the local market was transformed into a charming Italian eatery, transporting guests straight to the heart of Italy!" the bride remembers. The team at Amorology worked closely with Charlie Modica, a longtime friend of Breezi's family, "to transform the beloved market into a dreamy Italian eatery." Renamed for one night only as Murri Market, a nod to the couple's new last name, the store was entirely transformed into a boldly colorful space for dinner and shopping.
Since they were hosting an Italian market-themed welcome party, the couple wanted to dress the part. Leonardo wore a custom shirt that was designed as an homage to the Italian flag, with a green and red pattern on white. He also donned a custom green jacket and slacks.
Breezi worked with Nardos on her own custom look: a white mini dress with green, white, and red disks. "Delicate ribbons attached at the shoulders of the dress cascaded down to the floor, adding flow to the design," she explains. The bride also carried a book clutch from Olympia Le-Tan (fittingly, The Italian Cook Book iteration) and wore her hair in a sleek ponytail.
Related: What to Wear to a Rehearsal Dinner as a Guest
Instead of creating a traditional seating chart, the team at Amorology transformed the store's shelves into a unique, interactive market-style display. Guests found their table assignments on calligraphed bags of pasta beneath a sign that read "Let's Get Sauced." Later, those attendees were invited back up to the market to "shop" for branded essentials.
Guests filled thematic bags with pasta, tomato sauce named in honor of the couple, and bottles of wine that were relabeled with "Whoopsie Daisy," another instance in which the daisy popped up throughout the weekend of celebrations. They also chose fresh vegetables, canned goods like sardines, and even visited a creamery display where they found custom pints of ice cream.
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Guests enjoyed a mix of both passed and stationed appetizers, including playful takes on Italian favorites like arancini, mini pizzas, antipasto skewers, and spaghetti and meatballs on a stick.
Breezi and Leonardo selected a few speciality cocktails for the evening, including a pasta water martini, which was from vodka, pasta water, and dry vermouth, then garnished with a farfalle noodle. Also on offer were an Aperol Sprit, Negroni, and a Gin and Jams, the latter of which were served in honor of the bride's guests from Scotland.
The bar menu was printed on clear acrylic, then displayed on a pasta drying rack with fresh spaghetti serving as the background.
The team at Amorology, with help from Back Up Productions, transformed the market's interior into a stunning dinner space, something unlike anything any local guests had ever seen before. A statement faux pasta installation was suspended from the center of the market, with "farfalle" and "spaghetti" cleverly made from felt and ribbon; florist Native Poppy created a floral display of vibrant red roses and strands of garlic. A mix of long and round tables were set up around the market for guests.
Since the market was too small to accomodate all of the bride and groom's 200 guests, additional tables spilled out into the courtyard at a neighboring hotel, The Court. There, long tables were arranged beneath scalloped chandeliers, string lights, and swags of fresh greenery.
Outside, each table was topped with striped linens (darker stripes were chosen specifically because they were the exact color of fresh pasta) and surrounded by either red or white chairs, helping to further reinforce the evening's Italian-inspired color palette. Bold red centerpieces, which contained a mix of roses and ranunculus, were interspersed with playful containers filled with fresh chamomile, a slightly different take on the daisy motif that popped up over the course of the weekend.
The couple chose an eclectic mix of place settings, favoring patterned dishware with plenty of pops of red. Mini ceramic olives held each attendee's place card.
"I grew up visiting the local market, where I fondly embraced their motto: 'Life's Short, Eat Dessert First!'" the bride notes. To that end, each place setting was topped with a custom sardine box, which cleverly contained a slice of olive oil cake topped with Limoncello glaze so that guests had the chance to enjoy dessert ahead of the evening's meal. The boxes also doubled as favors for guests.
Before sitting down to dinner, guests were invited to leave the couple a message in a keepsake cookbook. Playful signage read "A Penne for Your Thoughts," and more read roses decorated the display.
After eating their dessert first, everyone enjoyed the groom's favorite dish for dinner: Pasta alla Vongole. Then, it was time for a digestivo: "Smooth limoncello poured into vintage crystal bottles, passed amongst guests to toast the couple before heading to the dance floor in front of the market," the bride notes.
The bride and groom shared dances with their parents during the welcome party instead of during the reception the following day. Breezi and her dad chose "Sway" by Dean Martin while Leonardo and his mom selected "Viva La Mamma" by Giovanni Zarrella.
Dessert was served on the dance floor, where roving servers filled fresh cannoli shells for guests on the spot. Affogatos were also on offer, as well as gelato.
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The couple left their welcome party on a white Vespa scooter, which had been adorned with another felt farfelle noodle and more strands of garlic.
"Moments after the last guest departed, the movers swooped back in, swiftly transforming the market back to its original state," the bride explains, noting how much effort her planning team put into not just transforming the venue, but also returning it to its original state. "By dawn, Modica Market was ready to serve the locals their famous mimosas and muffins, and it was business as usual."
Breezi and Leonardo used the bride's beloved daisy as their inspiration for the wedding ceremony, and that flower served as a guiding principle for that part of the celebration's fashion and florals. The bride wore a strapless Nardos wedding dress, which featured a detachable cathedral-length train, hand-placed silk flowers, and a high slit.
Breezi wanted a natural, polished beauty look, and her team delivered in the form of softly tousled waves and bright, glowy skin. Her bouquet contained a mix of white daisies, chamomile, and cosmos, which the team at Native Poppy spent months sourcing. "White cosmos are notorious for being unable to ship because they are too delicate," the bride notes. "When Natalie finally found [a farm in Florida that] was growing them, she drove two hours to pick up 10 stems to complete the bridal bouquet!" To Natalie, that drive was "totally worth it to give a little bounce to bouquet!"
Leo wore an off-white dinner jacket and black tuxedo pants, which he paired with more casual loafers as a nod to the beach locale. A pair of daisy cufflinks and a new Rolex watch, a gift from his soon-to-be father-in-law, were the perfect finishing touches.
The ceremony took place inside the Seaside Chapel. "It's an architectural landmark in Seaside, with its 68-foot bell tower as a beacon in the community," the bride notes. "The Chapel's architectural design is breathtaking in its elegant simplicity." The couple and the teams at Amorology and Native Poppy were very intentional in selecting the ceremony's décor, specifically choosing elements that would enhance—not overpower—the beauty of the space.
Native Poppy created delicate hand-woven daisy chains for the ceremony's backdrop. 'We wanted to stick with daisies, so we made traditional daisy pews with champagne ribbon," Natalie at Native Poppy notes of the aisle. "But what made it special is we attached some daisies to gold wires so they floated above the pew arrangements and made the aisle look magical."
Breezi and Leonardo's two ring bearers made their entrance in a daisy-covered wagon. After, the bride and her father entered.
The groom's uncle opened the ceremony, addressing the couple's attendees in Italian. "To ensure everyone felt connected, Leonardo's sister, Carlotta, translated his remarks into English for my guests," the bride notes. Breezi's brother-in-law, David, officiated the ceremony; in the eight months leading up to the ceremony, he secretly learned Italian, committing to two classes per week despite his busy schedule as a working father to three young children. "Just before the vows, David revealed his surprise. In a moment that stunned the entire chapel—most of all, Breezi and Leonardo—he began leading Leonardo's vows in flawless Italian," the couple's wedding planner explains. "A wave of emotion swept through the room, and the heartfelt gesture left the Italian guests especially moved, making them feel genuinely appreciated and included."
After being pronounced husband and wife, the couple left the chapel in a flurry of daisies tossed by loved ones.
Bagpipers led guests from the ceremony to the reception, a nod to Breezi's years as an undergraduate student at St. Andrew's in Scotland.
Breezi and Leonardo wanted their wedding reception to be "unconventional and inviting," so prioritizing unexpected ideas was key. "The focus was on the guest experience! I wanted every event to feel like an exclusive pop-up party instead of a traditional wedding," the bride says. "In lieu of speeches, toasts, and tradition, the wedding was a continuously curated experience, moving from one end of the town to the other."
Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a sunset cocktail hour at the Seaside Pavilion, which was an homage to the couple's Australian Shepard, Snacks.
Inside the "Snacks" bar, guests were treated to some of the family dog's favorites: peanut butter and bacon. The bacon bar featured a tennis ball display, an illustration of Snacks, and bone garlands.
Snacks also arrived for the party, dressed in a floral garland for the occasion. Guests with dogs at home were given goodie bags of treats to take back on behalf of the couple's beloved pup.
In addition to an aptly named signature cocktail, the Salty Dog, guests were also able to enjoy their pick of thematic Bar Dog wines and Idyll Hounds beer. Sliders and popcorn were also on offer.
As a nonalcoholic option, the couple also set up a playful hydration bar, which read "Lap It Up." There, guests enjoyed flavored water.
The reception was held at the nearby Daytrader Tiki Bar, which was just a short walk down the boardwalk for guests.
At the bar, which served up tiki-style cocktails all night long, guests could try to win fun prizes, which included wedding-related swag.
Inside, elegantly set tables were a foil to the unique dinner everyone was about to experience. Patterned linens topped each table and tropical florals, courtesy of Native Poppy, were used as centerpieces.
"The dinner was far from traditional, featuring expertly curated courses paired with innovative cocktails, each designed to surprise and delight the senses," the planning team notes. "Tuna crispy rice bites were paired with the 'True Romance' cocktail, lobster noodles were paired with colorful dry ice cocktail vials, and edible shots were served from elaborate octopus vessels."
Before entering the reception, Breezi and Leonardo snuck away to change into Tiki-inspired outfits.
Hey There, Cupcake! created the couple's four-tiered wedding cake, which featured alternating tiers of yellow-and-white striped cake and white scalloped cake, which was fittingly decorated with fresh and sugar daisies. Inside, layers of coconut cake awaited.
Related: 65 Beautiful Wedding Cake Ideas to Inspire Your Own Big-Day Dessert
The party closed out with a surf-inspired after-party, where guests (and the couple!) danced on every available surface—including the bar! They also had a chance to have their auras read.
"As a top priority, secure your wedding planner first—they will be instrumental in bringing your vision to life and making the most of your budget," Breezi advises other couples. "Start by creating a comprehensive game plan that outlines your top priorities and how they fit into your budget. This will help guide your decisions and ensure you allocate funds where they matter most. A wedding planner can also help assemble a team of vendors that align perfectly with your vision, providing a cohesive and seamless celebration that reflects your style and priorities."Wedding Photography Rebecca Yale Photography
Wedding Planning and Design Amorology
Welcome Party and Wedding Installations Back Up Productions
Welcome Party and Wedding Flowers Native Poppy
Invitations and Paper Goods Cecile's Paper Co.
Welcome Party Venue Modica Market
Welcome Party Rentals Something Vintage, Theoni, Adore Folklore, Catalog Atelier, Emerald Coast Wraps, and H&M Rentals
Welcome Party and Cocktail Hour Catering Townsend Catering
Welcome Party Entertainment Epic Photo Booth, East Coast Entertainment, and DJ Will Bowers
Getaway Vespa Sandpiper Scooter
Ceremony Venue The Chapel at Seaside
Reception Venue and Catering The Daytrader Tiki Bar
Wedding Rentals Adore Folklore, Catalog Atelier, and BBJ Linens
Entertainment Michael Vanzanna, Chris Alverado, Top Hat Live, and Synergy Life
Cake Hey There, Cupcake!
Videographer Alan LeBlancUp Next: 30 Wedding Theme Ideas for Every Style of Celebration
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