Kyle & Jeremy: Of Wine and Love
All photos by Rob Futrell
The e.e. cumings quote, "his lips drink water, but his heart drinks wine," could aptly describe much of Kyle and Jeremy's relationship.
The two met almost eight years ago while Kyle was in college. Their first date was drinking $5 cabernet at Jeremy's apartment, sparking their love for wine-tasting and, ultimately, of each other.
Five years into dating, Jeremy got on bended knee at sunset on the beach at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas. Kyle's "yes" set off planning a wedding that was as family and friend-focused as possible. "We really wanted our loved ones to be part of it," Kyle explained.
To facilitate this goal, the couple settled on The Treasury in St. Augustine, Florida. "St. Augustine was the most beautiful location without being too far for those traveling," explained Kyle. "We chose The Treasury because of its beautifully modern and elegant design."
Kyle and jeremy further involved their family by each having large wedding parties of "friends from all walks of life," plus their siblings as best persons. Their aunts sang during the ceremony, and Kyle's father officiated the wedding.
'We both wanted someone we knew personally to officiate for us," Kyle said. "My dad has been a role model throughout our entire relationship, and he knows us better than anyone, so he was able to make the ceremony personal in a way that no one else would've been able to do." Raoul walked down the aisle with his own husband holding hands before officiating the ceremony. And, in a nod to Kyle and Jeremy's first date, Raoul pointed out how it "shows that Jeremy is cheap, and Kyle is a cheap date!"
The couple wanted their wedding day to include specially crafted details that they'd remember forever. "We wanted a moment to commemorate the LGBTQ aspect of our wedding,” Kyle explained. “So, we stood in front of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument during the photoshoot and set off vibrantly colored smoke bombs to create a Pride rainbow." They also included a new tradition: the pouring of the Unity Glass. "We ordered glass pieces in various colors representing our birthstones and combined them during the ceremony. Afterwards, we melted them down and molded them into one piece of glass as a symbol of our union."
When asked what Kyle and Jeremy found most surprising about planning their wedding, Kyle shared: "It really is a team effort it is; not only among family members but among all of the vendors and venue staff. It took so much work and coordination from so many people to execute something so beautiful." And, it is not surprising that Kyle suggested starting to plan early. "We planned our wedding over the course of one-and-a-half years allowing us to really focus on the details. We were able to maximize cost/benefits by exploring multiple options because we weren’t pressed for time."
Kyle went on to share deeper wisdom: "Don't compare your wedding to other people’s! Several of my friends are getting married every year. Each couple has a different vision of perfect (and a different budget) so you shouldn’t compare your wedding to theirs." Like no two couples are alike, no two weddings can be. Compare your wedding to your vision for it and to no one else's.
"Everything about our wedding was executed exactly to our vision and felt incredibly natural. It almost didn't feel like we were throwing a wedding because The Treasury helped it all flow so smoothly. Overall, the day was a combination of overwhelming beauty and emotion. People were crying, but it was also the best party we had ever been to."
All hearts were filled with love… and wine.
Photographer Rob Futrell, @photosbyrob
Ceremony and Reception Venue The Treasury on the Plaza
Planner/Designer Coastal Coordinating
Caterer Purple Olive
Cake Sweet Weddings Cake Designs
Floral Designer Jade Violet Wedding Floral
