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Crystal Bolin Photography 11/6/19 Crystal Bolin Photography 11/6/19

Nicole + Charles | Chic Tropical Palm Beach Wedding

A Chic Tropical Palm Beach Wedding at the West Palm Beach Lake Pavilion

On October 18th 2019, Andrew and I had the pleasure of capturing Charles and Nicole ‘s Chic Tropical Palm Beach Wedding at the West Palm Beach Lake Pavilion. Their wedding day was a classy, tropical dream with a splash of Lilly Pulitzer flare. Their vibrant day was pure 'Palm Beach' perfection.

They said, “I do,” in the same place they shared their first kiss and where Charles proposed, on the dock of the West Palm Beach waterfront. It was a very overcast day, but it didn’t rain! Every last detail was carefully thought out and reflected Nicole and Charles so well. From the colorful hand-painted bottle of Veuve Clicquot to the assorted ice cream cones for dessert, every last detail was an elegant, tropical dream.

Andrew and I have known Nicole for many years. Three years ago, at a wedding we captured where Nicole was a guest, we chatted for a few minutes. While we were catching up, she said, “One day, when I find a guy and get married, you will be my photographer!” Little did she know then, but her future husband was a guest at that very wedding, and she had just met him that night. It was an honor to see their story come full circle. Their entire sweet love story is below.

Charles & Nicole, thank you for choosing us to document your stunning wedding day! It was such an honor working with both of you! We wish you all the best in this exciting new season of life. May God continue to bless you both and your marriage for many years to come.

The Love Story

Nicole and Charles first met on September 17th, 2016, at their mutual friends’, A.J. & Laura Titus, wedding at the Flagler Museum. Charles was head over heels about Nicole from the moment he saw her, but they did not connect in that moment. He assumed she was dating the guy next to her, her brother.

The following year, on February 13th, 2017, Charles began his new job in West Palm Beach, where he was greeted by, and for the first time, formally introduced to Nicole. Even though they worked at the same company, for the first 6 months they had minimal interactions, despite Charles’ best efforts.

The work trip that changed everything:

Later in the year, Charles moved to Texas and flew to New Orleans for a last minute work conference. Charles was excited to find out Nicole was there too. They spent the next four days getting to know each other, working in close quarters, and sharing Hurricanes at Pat O'briens. During the last night of the conference, Nicole mentioned she wanted to get beignets. Since Charles had been to New Orleans many times, he knew the best spot, and he took the opportunity to escort her, so she wasn't roaming the streets of New Orleans alone. He, of course, just wanted to spend more time with her.

After that trip, he knew there was something special about Nicole, even if she showed no interest in him. They went back to their normal work life, miles away from one another. They continued to talk on the phone once a week and hung out whenever he flew to South Florida for a quick weekend to see his parents.

First proper date:

Fast forward to a few weeks before Christmas 2017. Charles knew he was going to be in South Florida for ten days around the holidays, so he asked Nicole on a proper date to her favorite restaurant, Kitchen. She agreed to go to dinner with him because of his “the worst thing that can happen is you have a great meal at your favorite restaurant” pitch. They spent the whole night talking about their families, who they are outside of work, and their values. Everything clicked. After dinner, they continued the conversation while walking around downtown West Palm, Nicole’s favorite way to converse. They ended the evening with a three-hour heart-to-heart on the end of the dock and shared their first kiss.

The remaining seven days of his trip were the start to their relationship. They did everything together from lunch dates, touristy sightseeing, and more dinners. After the seven days of speed dating, Charles had to fly back to Houston. Both hesitant on trying the long distance dating, they decided to see where this relationship could go. A week of time apart was too long, so they talked every night and decided to give the long distance a shot. And it worked!

The majority of their relationship was spent miles, apart but the time a part made every weekend trip together special. For weeks at a time, all they had were phone calls and Face-Timing. The foundation of their relationship started with communication.

The big question:

On December 22nd, 2018, exactly one year from their first date, Charles proposed on the same dock in West Palm where they spent hours talking under the stars. Charles has now moved back to West Palm, and they are excited to be starting their lives together and are thankful for the distance because of the bond they created, no matter the miles in between.

The details that brought this Chic Tropical Palm Beach Wedding together:

Venue: The West Palm Beach Lake Pavilion

Coordinator: Allison Lewis of The Golden Pineapple

Florist: Southern Floral

Painted Champagne Bottle: Go Coastal Studio

DJ: Kenny Mondo

Officiate: Rev. Jul MedenblikCatering: Alexander Event

Invitation Designer: Anna Moore from Prime Pretty Prints

Hair Stylist: A Better Cut

Makeup Artist: A Better Cut

Dress Designer: Justin Alexander

Men's Wear: Men’s Warehouse & A Black Tux

Ring Designer: Marcus Jewelers

Head Piece Designer: The Ruffled Rose Boutique

Shoe Designer: Sam Edelman

Bridesmaids Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu

Photography: Crystal & Andrew Bolin

Crystal Bolin Photography 11/29/18 Crystal Bolin Photography 11/29/18

Alyssa + Bryan | Rustic Chic Vow Renewal

A Rustic Chic Vow Renewal at You Farm in Loxahatchee, FL

Twelve years ago I had the honor of being a bridesmaid in their wedding. On Friday, November 16th, I had the honor of documenting their vowel renewal. The ceremony took place at You Farm in Loxahatchee, FL, on a chilly night. Their elegant attire paired charmingly with the rustic outdoor venue.

Their day was filled with sweet smiles, tender tears and loving glances. Family closely witnessed them as they reaffirmed the promise they had made in an intimate setting. This time, their two daughters stood close by to witness their parents rededicate their love for each other. It was a beautiful sight to see those young girls witnessing such a powerful example of what a Godly marriage commitment should look like.

Alyssa and Bryan, thank you for allowing us the privilege of being a part of this special day! We pray that God will continue to bless your marriage and family immensely! We know God is using you both to impact the lives of so many around you! Thank you for being such a blessing in our lives!