Mr. and Mrs. Woods | Wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Woods

November 2024

A Fairy-Tale Alys Beach Wedding

Photography by Kiana Tate Laroche, Kiana Tate Photo

In a world where love reigns supreme, it is the very essence of our existence. At VIE, we have been weaving tales of romance and passion for sixteen years, with love stories that captivate both heart and soul. One such enchanting narrative unfolded in the charming town of Alys Beach, Florida, where the union of Ann Marie Delaney and Casey Gunnar Woods was nothing short of a fairy tale.

As the clock struck five o’clock on the evening of April 6, 2024, the couple exchanged their vows amidst a splendid array of colorful florals on the Gulf Green at Alys Beach. Their guests were delighted by the elegance of their love story and the grandeur of their celebration.

“I grew up in Panama City, Florida, and Casey grew up in St. Pete, Florida,” Ann shared. “Being the sporty people we are, we met in 2013 while playing intramural flag football at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Over the years, we enjoyed many ice-cream dates and gym workouts together.”

By December 2022, Casey was ready to propose. “We got engaged in Tulum, Mexico, on the private beach behind the house where we were spending our Christmas vacation with my family,” he recalled. “It was just the two of us under the palm trees, with a photographer I had hired, discreetly hidden nearby. My family was inside the house, watching through the windows.”

“Casey got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife,” Ann added. “It was the easiest ‘yes’ of my life! It was a tropical proposal of my dreams and the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for.”

We had the pleasure of experiencing every delightful detail of their love celebration. We immersed ourselves in every moment and shared in the magic of their extraordinary day and subsequent honeymoon extravaganza.

wedding, wedding dress, bride, groom, alys beach wedding

wedding, wedding dress, bride, groom, alys beach wedding, wedding reception

VIE: How did you choose the venue for your wedding? Did you explore many options?

Ann Woods: Casey and I were in no hurry when it came to planning our wedding, as we really wanted to savor our engagement period. Then, in April, we received exciting news: Casey’s parents, who lived in St. Pete, fell in love with 30-A and bought a home in Alys Beach. This meant that Casey and I could have our wedding in Alys Beach, as weddings there are exclusive to homeowners and their children.

I’ve worked in Alys Beach for eight years and have had countless daydreams about getting married there. The architecture is unparalleled, and one of my favorite locations worldwide. Since 2016, I’ve been enamored with the Gulf Green and Alys Beach. It was the only venue we toured and considered, and it was love at first “site” for me.

VIE: What was the wedding planning process like for you as a couple?

Ann: To my surprise, Casey willingly took charge of the wedding planning. I’m easily overwhelmed, and the thought of planning the wedding intimidated me. Casey, being the fantastic leader he is, was excited to handle the details. He mostly met and spoke with vendors and did a phenomenal job—something I’ve rarely seen from any groom. It meant so much to me that I included it in my wedding vows.

We also hired Sherri Kuhn of 30A To Wed as a planning consultant. Sherri is incredibly sweet, and Casey and I were immensely grateful for her expertise throughout the planning process.

Casey Woods: I found the planning to be a blast. Overall, the experience went very smoothly, and I might have adjusted only two or three minor things—details that no one would have ever noticed.

alys beach wedding, wedding, flash photography, wedding photographer

alys beach wedding, wedding, flash photography, wedding photographer, wedding cake, ann woods, casey woods

VIE: Describe your Alys Beach wedding day. Was there a theme to your décor? Share some memorable moments or favorite aspects of the day.

Ann: Our entire wedding weekend was a dream. I believe God played a significant role, for which we are incredibly grateful. I am not exaggerating when I say there wasn’t a cloud in the sky for our Welcome Party and Wedding Day—just perfect blue skies! With a Florida wedding in April and being entirely outdoors, to say we were nervous about the weather would be an understatement.

Our theme was a formal Garden Party, and Carley Hubbard of Showtime Events knocked it out of the park! I told her I wanted a vibrant mix of colors for the flowers, and they looked stunning against Alys Beach’s architecture. We encouraged our guests to wear Garden Party colors; everyone understood the assignment perfectly!

There were many memorable moments during our wedding weekend. One highlight was having Casey’s father officiate our wedding. It was his first time, and after the ceremony, people kept asking if he did this professionally because he was terrific. We chose not to have a large wedding party—just Casey and me on the steps at Gulf Green—and it felt like we were in our own little world. We wrote our vows, which made the ceremony even more meaningful, with smiles, laughter, and happy tears throughout.

Having all our loved ones in one place was a surreal and cherished experience. As a special touch, we gave our guests bottles of whiskey from the private barrel we purchased directly from the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, in 2017. We love Old Fashioneds, which were featured as one of the Bride & Groom’s cocktails at the reception.

Casey: All the men were dressed in tuxedos. My dad and I even flew up to Nashville, Tennessee, for fittings at Richard’s Bespoke, which was an unbelievable experience. Countless family members asked if we only hung out with attractive people; everyone looked amazing!

A few notable moments stand out. Our first dance was unforgettable, with the Will Thompson Band performing “La Vie En Rose.” Lindsey, Will’s wife, learned the song on the wedding day and sang it beautifully.

Another highlight was the speeches. My brother, my great friend Sean, and Ann’s two sisters delivered heartfelt speeches that had the crowd laughing, crying, and genuinely melting our hearts.

Finally, our getaway was perfect. We cruised through Alys Beach on my parents’ Vespa with a sidecar attached.

VIE: Did you honeymoon?

Casey: Yes. The honeymoon was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We started in New York, New York—which we both love—and then ate and drank our way through Europe, including Rome and Florence, Italy and Montpellier and Paris, France.

Ann: At the time, I had never been to Europe. I was counting down the seconds until our honeymoon!

VIE: Why did you decide to start your honeymoon in New York City?

Ann: Casey and I love New York, and when we discovered a direct flight from New York to Rome, it felt like the perfect choice. Being huge foodies, we ate our way through the city, savoring bagels at Leon’s, cocktails at Dante, steak at Peter Luger’s, and pizza at John’s of Bleecker Street.

Casey even phoned Dante ahead of time to inform them that we were on our honeymoon. They pleasantly surprised us by adding a photo from our wedding to each of our espresso martinis, which brought joy to my eyes—I was so happy that my tears ended up in my martini!

VIE: Tell us about your experience in Italy!

Ann: Italy has always been at the top of my travel list, so I knew right away I wanted to honeymoon there. I’d never experienced a place with so much culture before. Everyone was incredibly kind, and the history in Rome was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Florence’s sandwiches? Well, let’s just say they surpass Publix subs. I never realized how much I could love bread, especially Florentine bread. The wine, the architecture, and, of course, the pasta—everyone there must be so happy because they get to enjoy pasta every day. I can’t wait to go back!

VIE: Why Paris?

Ann: Why not Paris? Casey’s mother’s side of the family is French, and he’d traveled to Paris several times growing up. He was excited to show me the City of Love! We were incredibly touched by a generous gesture from my sweet and talented friend, Marieanne Khoury-Vogt, Alys Beach’s town architect. She offered us the chance to stay at her stunning apartment in Paris for our honeymoon.

I’m not kidding—my jaw dropped when we walked into the apartment. The décor, interior design, and location were all breathtaking. From the wedding to the honeymoon, Casey and I felt so much love from our friends and family. Paris exceeded all my expectations. The Eiffel Tower was even more spectacular in person, and I loved strolling down the streets and watching Parisians interact.

Eating escargot at every meal (except breakfast) was a must, and, of course, shopping was a highlight. I may have shed a tear when I had my first croissant there. Everything just seems better in Europe.

VIE: What made you choose Montpellier as a secondary destination?

Ann: The story of how we ended up there is one of my favorites. While attending the Oysters and Champagne event at the 30A Wine Festival in Alys Beach, we met Pierre-Etienne Chevalier, the sales director for La Grande Sieste, who had traveled from France for the event.

As we chatted and enjoyed their delicious rosé, I mentioned to Pierre-Etienne that Casey and I planned to visit France during our honeymoon, with Paris as our only destination. Later, Pierre-Etienne approached our table and invited us to stay at their vineyard in the South of France. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.

We adjusted our itinerary and made our way to La Grande Sieste. Thanks to the La Grande Sieste team, our time there was incredible. We had unforgettable experiences with their wine pairings and the French dishes prepared by the vineyard’s owner, Boris Leclercq, a chef at several restaurants in Montpellier. Our stay at their chateau was heavenly, and everyone made us feel so loved. It was the summer European trip of a lifetime!

VIE: Thank you for sharing such an incredible experience!

— V —

Special Thanks

AW and CW: We are incredibly grateful to all our amazing vendors for making the most important day of our lives so special. A huge thank you to every one of you!

Our vendors were: