Photos by Paul Johnson Photography pauljohnsonphoto.com
Couples choose it to celebrate their weddings here because it is truly their “happy place." By Ann Lewis
Many notions are conjured by the seaside — and even more in Seaside itself. On the forefront of new urbanism, Seaside’s design and structure capture the architects and urban planners; as a hometown to all who reside and visit here, it is the new town with the old ways. But more than that, it is the people who live and love here that make Seaside special. So many couples choose it to celebrate their weddings here because it is truly their “happy place,” as Sarah Zimmerman Jordan explains.
Courtney Wainer and Aaron Abramovitz
Not unlike Sarah Zimmerman, Courtney Wainer spent her childhood along the Emerald Coast. Her family visited 30A in 2008 and instantly fell in love. Three years ago, Courtney and Aaron Abramovitz met through J-Date, an online dating website. He proposed with candles, champagne and flowers on bended knee. She had always wanted to marry at the beach, so Seaside was the obvious choice. Attendees traveled from Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, California and Texas. At first, she was concerned the journey might be too far for some, but as guests arrived, she no longer worried because as she said to her cousin, “We wanted to share what we love with y’all.” Their wedding was a three-day event. On Friday, the festivities began with the rehearsal dinner at Café 30A, followed by a Bonfire Beach party hosted by Live Well and Townsend Catering, and bookended by an after-party at a friend’s beach front home. On Saturday, guests were treated to cocktails, dinner and dancing at the V in Seagrove; Big Sam’s Funky Nation, a New Orleans band, kept the diners dancing through the night. On Sunday, Nov. 15, Courtney and Aaron were married by family friend Cantor Scott Bresler in Ruskin Place. The bride was beautiful in her Pandora gown by Modern Trousseau. Events by Nouveau designed the flowers for the bouquets, ceremony and reception with shades of pink and white peonies. The reception included music from the Atlanta band Simply Irresistible, drinks and menu by Townsend Catering, and a remarkable six-tiered wedding cake artfully designed with gold brush detail and sugar leaves, flowers and branches by Confections on the Coast. Paul Johnson Photography captured the moments of this dream wedding; and Pure 7 Films was the videographer. Arden Sanders of It’s a Shore Thing coordinated the weekend. Before returning to New Orleans, the couple enjoyed a getaway to the Napa and Sonoma Valleys followed by a tropical excursion to Tahiti.
Ultimately, couples like Sarah and Zachary and Courtney and Aaron are attracted to Seaside for their biggest of days because as Courtney explains it, “That’s what meant the most. Our favorite people in our favorite place.”
Visit Seaside Chapel online.
