Shannon Anderson & Antonio Colacci
Married
May 3, 2025
Lake Alfred ,
Florida
Photo Credit
Sarah Marie Photography
Style Guide
Color Palette
Style
Formal
Season
Spring
The Proposal
Shannon and Antonio met in college at the University of New Hampshire. While Shannon grew up 40 minutes away from the school, Antonio was brought to New England to play soccer for the university. The two began dating in 2017, sophomore year of college, when Antonio flew home to Sarasota for winter break and asked Shannon to be his girlfriend in the drop off line at the airport.
After 4 years together, and many long-distance stints, the couple moved to Florida in March of 2022 for Antonio to pursue his private soccer training business. Come August 2023, Shannon’s brother and sister-in-law were getting married, and she knew that it was only a matter of time before Antonio got down on one knee. She started setting her two-week manicure appointment soon after their wedding, and suspected a proposal in mid-November when her parents had scheduled a weekend visit. Unfortunately, one month before this proposal, a family member confirmed her suspicions at lunch when he showed her a text message relaying surprise dinner plans which he emphasized Antonio had set up for the whole family.
Thankfully, Antonio was also at that lunch and was able to come up with a new plan. Shannon had a work conference in Boston that she had to fly up for the week prior to her parents’ visit to Florida. Little did she know, Antonio bought a last minute ticket to fly up during that conference and her parents suggested dinner in the Seaport after visiting the waterfront and looking at the skyline. Well, in typical city fashion, Shannon could not find parking and wanted to give up on the idea and meet her parents at the restaurant instead. Her mom told her to park anywhere – she’d pay the fine, and Shannon still had no clue her future husband had been standing outside in 40 degree weather for over an hour, waiting for her to find parking! Her mom walked out to meet her, parked the car, and took her on a stroll to the waterfront. There, Shannon saw Antonio and a photographer waiting for her, and she knew. When she saw the two, she was shocked and exclaimed, “I’m not dressed for this!”. It truly was the best surprise, and she wouldn’t have changed one thing about it.
In Preparation
Having witnessed her sister-in-law plan their wedding, Shannon knew that she had to hop on the planning train as soon as possible. She wanted the classic coastal New England wedding, but after getting back some proposals, she knew it was out of budget. Florida was the obvious next choice, but with so many friends and family members having to travel, they wanted a location that offered lodging on site. Thankfully, they found the Adams Estate in Lake Alfred, FL, and after one tour of the property, the couple fell in love.
During the tour of the estate, Shannon and Antonio were told of its rich history of citrus farming, which led to the theme of their wedding. To fit the aesthetic of the venue, they knew they wanted a classic wedding but with hints of citrus to pay homage to its background. Bridesmaids were given colors to wear in the pink, yellow, and green color palette while groomsmen were asked to wear black for that classic feel. Shannon’s dress was custom made by Arnoldo Joseph in Concord, NH. Her Pinterest board was filled with ideas and shared with all her vendors. She DIY’d the invitations, napkins, menus, welcome sign & seating chart to ensure everything matched.
The vendor team was instrumental in making planning go smoothly. From their photographer Sarah, taking their engagement photos and studying the hundreds of photos on Shannon’s Pinterest board, to Abbey, the Day-of-Coordinator answering Shannon’s weekly questions, to Jen, their florist, whose posts on social media eased Shannon’s mind with her amazing arrangements. They could not have asked for a better team.
The Big Day
If sunshine could be bottled, it would look exactly like Shannon and Antonio’s wedding day at The Adams Estate in sunny Florida. Tucked away on a historic lakeside property, this dreamy venue set the perfect stage for a wedding that felt like the best kind of backyard garden party—only with way more style, a lot more florals, and just the right amount of oranges (yes, actual oranges). From the moment guests arrived, it was clear that this was no ordinary celebration. The vibe was springtime in a citrus grove meets pastel fairytale. Think blush pinks, soft lavenders, buttery yellows, and apricot hues sprinkled everywhere—from the bridesmaids’ dresses to the floral arrangements that looked like they were plucked straight out of a watercolor painting.
Instead of traditional centerpieces, Shannon and Antonio went all-in on citrus charm for the tablescapes. Juicy oranges and tangerines nestled between pastel florals created a scene so cheerful, even the butter knives seemed to be smiling. The tables weren’t just set—they were styled with a wink and a nudge toward sunshine, springtime, and Florida zest.
The ceremony was cozy, heartfelt, and filled with that magical kind of love that makes you feel like you’re watching a real-life rom-com—only better, because the popcorn is replaced with champagne and the leads are actual people in love (Shannon’s walk down the aisle? Cue happy tears). With an intimate guest list, every detail felt intentional and every moment personal. From the handwritten vows to the spontaneous dance moves during golden hour, there was a sense that this wasn’t just a wedding—it was a celebration of togetherness, wrapped in pastel ribbons and citrus perfume.
The Retreat
Five days after their wedding, Shannon and Antonio were on a plane to Barcelona, Spain. They spent three days there and were able to watch FC Barcelona play Real Madrid in El Classico – a lifelong dream of Antonio’s. From Barcelona, the two traveled to Seville, Spain and spent another two days there exploring the city. Finally, they travelled to Mallorca – their favorite location of the trip. With five days total here, two were spent at Jumeirah Mallorca – a beautiful resort above Port de Soller with stunning views of the Tramuntana mountains & the Balearic sea. The final two days were spent in Palma with a day trip to Santanyi.
Featured Wedding Vendors
Caterer: Catering Company of Central Florida | Venue: The Adams Estate | Wedding Cake: Gourmet Goodies | Event Planner: The Adams Estate | Entertainment: Grainger Entertainment | Florals: JF Events and Flowers | Gown: Arnoldo Joseph | Hair & Makeup: Marci Does Makeup | Photographer: Sarah Marie Photography | Rentals & Decor: Southern Chair
