Mar 1, 20212 min read

Princess & the Frog at Paddlefish

Updated: Jan 27, 2022

Let's just get this out of the way right now.... if you have not been to Disney Springs, you're missing out!! Constantly evolving and bringing us new dining, shopping and entertainment options, Disney Springs is such a fun spot to just hang out. So what about getting married there? If you're like me, you LOVE Disney and would do anything for a Disney "something" included in your wedding plans. But if you're also like me, you just can't go all out with a wedding in front of the castle itself (*insert ugly cry here). What if I told you, you could still get the same Disney magic by going micro for a wedding at Disney Springs? The same Disney atmosphere and recognizable icons, but on a much more chill level. I gotchu boo.... Paddlefish.

We were inspired by Disney's The Princess and the Frog and Paddlefish was just THE perfect venue to set the scene. I mean c'mon... there's a paddleboat IN the movie. As such an important design element, we featured Paddlefish itself on our custom invitation suite. To top it all off, a New Orleans style brass band played live music, bringing our vision full circle. Watching the bride and groom dance to a live performance of “Almost There”, among other NOLA hits, was so surreal.

The ceremony decor for this micro wedding was pretty simple with just a floral garland mounted to the railing of the private deck, capturing the essence and view of Disney Springs and Saratoga Springs Resort. The venue’s existing tables and chairs (hello savings) were perfect to set for a total of 20 guests for reception in the indoor space—social distancing approved. We showcased various floral centerpieces united with a delicate table runner, slim green garland and mismatched candles. The place settings were modernly “froggy”, with a copper geo charger (reminiscent of a lily pad) and mismatched green goblets. Let’s not forget the stationery! The custom menus and place cards (which are totally symbolic of a frog’s tongue) made our table fit for an "elegantly swampy" princess. As for the dessert display, we featured a flower wall that just leapt off the theme from our dining tables...beignets included, of course.

The focal point of this shoot was our beautiful bride in her gorgeous “Tiana” gown, newly released from the Allure x Disney Weddings bridal collection. “It evokes the opulence and elegance of the Jazz Age.” The groom’s ocean blue peak lapel slim fit suit complimented her perfectly, paired with a light green bowtie and an “elegantly swampy” boutonniere—Prince Naveen would’ve been proud.