Santa Rosa Beach Bride Epitomizes Coastal Classic
Cover shoot showcases the benefits of a Northwest Florida wedding
By Rebecca Padgett Frett
The day was flawless. The sky was without a cloud in sight as our stunning cover bride Savannah Burden looked wedding-day perfect while effortlessly posing around WaterColor Inn & Resort’s property.
Northwest Florida Wedding Magazine’s 11th-issue cover shoot went without a hitch as Savannah got to play dress up ahead of her own big day coming up in June 2025.
“I was born and raised in Santa Rosa Beach. So, to be on the cover of a magazine showcasing my hometown is so much fun,” said Savannah.
It was in Santa Rosa Beach that Savannah met her fiance Kaden Smith. During their high school years, they were neighbors and attended the same school. At the time, they were just friends, but they’d always had a crush on each other. A few years after high school, they admitted this to one another and became a couple.
In 2023, after a dinner date, Kaden asked Savannah if she wanted to stop by and say hi to his parents at their clubhouse on the bay. When they arrived, candles lit the clubhouse, softly illuminating the beautiful bay view as Kaden got down on one knee and asked Savannah to marry him.
After an almost two-year engagement, the couple will have a destination wedding in Northern Italy on June 21, 2025. This has long been a dream of theirs; they love to travel and wanted an intimate wedding with only their closest family and friends.
“The style of our wedding is very romantic and classic,” said Savannah. “I tend to favor a style that is more timeless rather than modern. The natural scenery and Italian architecture at our wedding venue is my favorite part.”
Savannah urges couples to enjoy the bliss of the engagement period and to hire an experienced planner to make your vision come to fruition.
In advance of her own wedding, Savannah got to have a trial run, getting dressed and dolled up by top Northwest Florida vendors.
Before the shoot, Savannah attended a dress fitting at Margaret Ellen Bridal where she tried on dresses that will be trending in 2025 including drop-waists, corset-style tops, delicate lace and feminine details such as bow belts and pearls.
Each dress was expertly paired with designer jewelry from McCaskill & Company. Silver, gold and diamond statement pieces adorned the bride-to-be.
Brittany Sigler, owner of Destin Mobile Makeup Box, styled Savannah’s hair with voluminous waves and sideswept bangs. For makeup, she created a fresh-faced, golden, sun-kissed vibe. All equated to a classic, romantic Florida look.
Savannah held a beautiful bouquet, styled by Beachy Blooms 30A, of white, pale yellow and greenery. The orchids with their buttery hue and lavender centers added a fun, tropical note to a bouquet of local wild flowers.
The talented Rachel Wainwright was behind the lens expertly guiding Savannah to the most scenic spots on WaterColor Inn & Resort’s property, from the iconic bridge overlooking the lake to green spaces that highlight natural flora and fauna of the region.
This year’s cover exudes the classic elegance and natural beauty of a coastal-luxury wedding that only the Northwest Florida region provides.
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