Acclaimed experts share how they make the magic happen in The Palm Beaches and why you should choose the region for your South Florida destination wedding.

Kelilina Photography

808.895.3590 kelilinaphotography.com   Photographer Sheri Lynn Prisby launched Kelilina Photography as a one-woman operation in her native Hawaii in 2006. Fourteen years later, 10 photographers, editors and other visual artisans work under the Kelilina brand in multiple states, including Phil, Prisby’s husband and videographer.   Sheri Lynn and Phil are recent transplants to South Florida, and they look forward to documenting dazzling weddings in The Palm Beaches for years to come. Why The Palm Beaches?   “The Palm Beaches is certainly one of the most unique and special places to be married!” said Sheri Lynn. “For me, it’s all about variety. Ask my clients — they hear me say it over and over again that what I most want to give them is a variety-filled gallery, where we are constantly changing scenery and backgrounds, giving them options and continually finding new inspiration throughout a session. And the same is true of venue/location options for a wedding in The Palm Beaches. Some of the most prestigious resorts in the world are found here, as well as the most incredible beaches, nature parks, museums, architecture; the list goes on. Whatever you wish for your big (or small!) day, it can be granted here!” Sheri Lynn also discussed recent trends in wedding photography, as well as her favorite thing about wedding photography.   “With photography and videography being an art, most people understand this and let us take the reins to just create beautiful images and films for them as they’ve seen us do for others. That being said, one thing almost all of our clients do mention is that they don’t like over-posed photos. We try to focus more on natural emotion. With over a thousand weddings under our belts, we know exactly when to be ready with our cameras to capture those emotion-filled candids throughout the day.   “Easily our favorite part of wedding photography and videography is the backstage pass that we get to all the day’s festivities. We are the only vendor who is right there with the couple nearly every minute of the day—one of the most important and intimate days of their lives. This catapults us into a friendship, as we are there getting to know both sides of the family, befriending childhood and college friends alike, relieving the stress, drying the happy tears, sharing in the love and excitement.”

Daniel Events

561.393.1432 danielevents.com   Daniel Events has been a leader in luxury wedding and event design for the past 22-plus years. Led by owner, head designer and third-generation florist Benny Ofer, the company is one of the few full event production houses remaining in The Palm Beaches. The name Daniel Events is known for its inventive designs, over-the-top flower creations and as the “go-to” for weddings, social and corporate event designs in South Florida.   According to Ofer, The Palm Beaches is a special place to get married thanks to its overall aesthetic.   “(It’s a) clean and manicured setting the stage to do a myriad of styles. The weather cannot be beat, and the beautiful beaches and ocean views are the perfect backdrop for bridal photos. The diversity of the venues and transplanted styles from other (metropolitan areas) allow a bride to achieve a very elegant, classic and regal look against a tropical environment, moving from an ocean-view ceremony to a breathtakingly appointed and designed ballroom for their reception.”

A trailblazer in the wedding market, the company has grown into a complete team of super-talented artisans of various ilks including art, woodworking and lighting, as well as design dynamos who have moved the company into the broader event market by servicing the charity and social market as well as many Fortune 500 companies.   “Brides look to high-end wedding designers to guide them in creating a unique and personalized look for their wedding,” said Ofer. “Designers help brides from ‘soup to nuts’ in completing all their accoutrement and keeping the designs for their wedding in line, from the smallest detail to the overall wedding atmosphere. We’re seeing a trend of sophisticated and chic weddings, still with all the lush florals in more monochromatic colors, mixed with clear glass, acrylic and metallics that also glisten and shine. However, the traditional, romantic style never really goes away; it remains many brides’ dream wedding.”

Tux Shop Palm Beach

561.626.8899 tuxshoppalmbeach.com   Susan Damon, the owner of Tux Shop Palm Beach, has been clothing the sharply dressed man for more than 30 years. Her store is said to be the only full-service tuxedo shop in Florida—meaning you can walk in, try on a number of different looks and leave with the tuxedo of your (or your fiancée’s) dreams. Recognized as “the bridal shop for grooms,” Tux Shop Palm Beach features dozens of affordable tuxes for sale or rent in its deceptively compact Palm Beach Gardens store.   “Weddings in Palm Beach County have invitations with the finest addresses! Both to the addressee and the venue hosting. The must-see address also requires must-see attire,” said Damon. “The traditions upheld because of our rich history (pun intended) fosters attire traditionally. I love the romance of black tie and white tie. Weddings may be here because of the beaches, so the themed welcome dinners can mimic the sand and sea whereas the reception and ceremony are elevated. The Palm Beaches offer the full gamut!”

Damon also spoke about why it’s important, even for out-of-town grooms, to shop for their tux locally in The Palm Beaches.   “Wherever the wedding location is, that’s where the tuxedo should be serviced. Grooms need somebody locally to service that wedding there, because a button’s going to fall off, they’re going to put their foot through a hem, something’s going to need to be assisted. And recovery is key.”   As for wedding trends, Damon shared her insider knowledge.   “Old school is trending. We even have a tuxedo that we named The Frank, after Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. We can all relate to the Rat Pack era, when the greats used to wear tuxedos. We now are going back to that look. Now that casual Friday has become casual all week, the importance of getting dressed up is even greater. James Bond is another character who helps the men’s clothing world. Because that character is popular and relevant, it follows suit — pardon the pun — with men’s clothing. Other than black, we are seeing navy blues, charcoal greys and fun dinner jackets as a second coat, for a groom to change into for a reception. Because when they are doing something a bit more formal, then that reception is more of a party aspect, and the bride is often changing into something else too.”

SandyJames Fine Food & Productions

561.366.0012 sandyjames.net   James Bartle, who started his catering and event company SandyJames with former partner Sandy Kuba, has a rich history in The Palm Beaches’ local kitchens, dating back to a humble deli in West Palm Beach nearly two decades ago. Bartle has continued to bring a strong work ethic and culinary chops to SandyJames Fine Food & Productions.   SandyJames is the official in-house caterer of the National Croquet Center, and it is a go-to partner at unique venues from Palm Beach’s Flagler Museum to Juno Beach’s Loggerhead Marinelife Center to West Palm Beach’s Lake Pavilion. SandyJames has plated special events for SunFest, major galas, benefit balls and even a dinner for President Barack Obama. In addition to food, it handles event planning, staffing, floral arrangements, audiovisual equipment and more.   The company is ready to please palates at your next destination wedding, complete with five-course dinners or passed hors d’oeuvres. Some of SandyJames’ popular options for cocktail hour include potato pancakes with duck trap smoked salmon, Marsh Harbor conch fritters with spicy remoulade, and Belgian endive curried chicken. Entrees can range from mixed-grill rack of lamb to Black Angus beef tenderloin medallions to citrus-glazed halibut.   “A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event and most brides/grooms have meticulously planned every detail,” said Scott Reiser, one of the company’s managers. “So when I am able to exceed their dream wedding expectations, it makes me proud of what I do and the company I work for. I personally get involved with my brides and grooms, so it is rewarding to see the smiles and happy tears at the end of the night.”

Kirkland Event & Destination Services

561.296.9449 kirklanddmc.com   Founded by owner Paget Kirkland in 2006, Kirkland Event & Destination Services specializes in soup-to-nuts destination management. In its own lingo, it handles events “From Concept to Completion.” To that end, the company’s broad portfolio of wedding services includes floral, design, production, catering, photography and venue selection. It also handles all transportation needs through its sister organization, Palm Beach Tours & Transportation, and its subsidiary, Molly’s Trolleys, whose colorful and iconic vehicles further brighten an already magical day.   Kirkland has built a stellar reputation based on its attentive and knowledgeable staff, its high level of service, its strategic partnerships with hotels and vendors and its many satisfied clients. Paget Kirkland elaborated on what makes her company a winning purveyor.   “We understand how critical it is to communicate openly and accurately throughout the entire planning process. We listen intently before, during and after an event. We strive to forge a special working relationship that allows us to assist in planning and executing your event while staying attuned to your specifications and budget. With over 25 years of event planning services under our belt, there really isn’t a wedding day ‘emergency’ that we could not calmly and quickly find a solution to.   “We are the local expert here in The Palm Beaches and have found that most people want to find the hidden gem of a location or the advice on the best catering services. We also have very talented team members that put together beautiful décor that make your reception magical. We love to listen and create a unique experience that really speaks to who you are as a couple.   “Since we have our own full-service transportation company, we personally know all of the drivers and have GPS tracking on all vehicles. We also have cameras in every vehicle to ensure the safety of the passengers and the drivers. If your flight is 20 minutes early, our driver will be also. We real-time track all flights and adjust schedules accordingly. Also, all of our vehicles are well maintained and go through routine maintenance checks to ensure the best possible level of service.”