Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd

The Forever “I Do”

By Morgan Power | Photography by Kiana Tate Photo

Growing up in a close-knit family, Gabrielle Carollo from Destin, Florida, attended Niceville High School with her cousin and friend Ryan. Through him, she crossed paths with his best friend, Nathaniel Lloyd, and their connection was undeniable. This special bond continued to grow stronger over the years until the pair knew they were ready to take on forever together.

T his love story began when Nathaniel asked Gabrielle to accompany him on a coffee date after school in Niceville. They continued spending time together following this occasion and soon became inseparable.

“We got engaged on December 24, 2022,” says Gabrielle. “It was Christmas Eve, freezing, and he took me to a rooftop he had set up earlier that night with one of his best friends. I had no idea it was happening! He told me we had to ‘wrap the pipes because they were going to freeze.’ It was such a perfect moment, and we went to celebrate at my family’s Christmas Eve party right after.”

Being Florida natives, the couple explored various venue options before deciding to hold their wedding ceremony at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, with a reception to follow at The Henderson Beach Resort in Destin. With the idea of a large fairy-tale wedding celebration in mind, The Henderson Beach Resort was the perfect setting to host the reception of their dreams. Considering The Henderson’s lush green lawn area, Gabrielle knew she wanted to utilize her mother’s design skills to create a magical experience for herself, her husband, and their guests.

“My mom, Kirstie, is an interior designer and owns Bella Beach Home in Destin,” says Gabrielle. “I love everything she does and was so excited to design everything with her for the reception.”

With help from both her mother in interior design and Stephanie Tate, owner and lead coordinator of Savoir Faire Weddings, Gabrielle explains that the wedding planning process was fun and enjoyable for her and her husband! The couple trusted both the bride’s mother and Tate with the majority of the wedding details, allowing them to relax and soak in all the sweet moments preparing for married life.

Gabrielle recalls many amazing moments she encountered on her wedding day and says it is hard to choose just a few favorites. She shares many sentimental details that transformed her big day into precious memories she and her family will cherish forever.

“It was coastal, with lots of greenery and big flower arrangements,” she says of the decor. “My bouquet was one of my favorite things. It was a petite arrangement of the delicate lily of the valley and beautiful green leaves. Wrapped around it was my grandmother’s rosary, which she’s had since she was a little girl. At the time of the cake cutting, we made our champagne toast with my grandparents’ crystal champagne glasses they drank from at their wedding in 1967, which was so special to me. Getting dressed with my mom in her room at my childhood home was also special, and I’m so glad we decided to get ready there. The pictures are so stunning, and I loved every moment. Doing the first look with my dad in front of our house was so beautiful and unforgettable to me; I think I cried the most in that moment.”

She also recalls that one of her favorite moments was driving down Scenic Highway 30-A in a vintage Rolls-Royce following the wedding reception. The newlyweds took this time to share all the sweet moments from their day and bask in the excitement of it all.

Following the wedding festivities, the couple traveled to the Faena Hotel in Miami for their honeymoon. The bride’s sister coordinated their trip, from plane tickets to dinner reservations, so the newly married couple could focus on relaxing and enjoying each other’s company while they celebrated. The couple spent their days lounging by the pool, shopping, and enjoying the incredible cuisine in South Beach. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd!

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Special Thanks