Pete Fournier Sheila and Idiaman Melvin

On July 9, at 5 p.m., Idiaman and Sheila exchanged romantic wedding vows in the presence of their family and close friends. The bride and groom planned their wedding by e-mails while the groom was stationed in Afghanistan. The couple selected Embassy Hotel as their Southwest Florida venue for everyone to join them in their celebration of marriage, and for all guests to stay extra days to enjoy themselves in our area. Although the bride, groom, the wedding attendants, their family and guests lived in various parts of the United States, all arrived at the hotel to share Idiaman and Sheila’s wedding experience.

The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father. The wedding party included Joseph Holmes, Mathew Brown, Derick Parks, Bryce Dudley, Tracey Carson, Mark Parks, Andi Johnson, Brenda Bates, Amelia Dudley, Amanda Vicente, Dominique Tanton, Marie Clancy and children Elijah Melvin, 11; Kai Hartson, 6; Kenan Bates, 5; Calla Vicente, 1; and Tyce Melvin, 1.

After the ceremony on the patio, the guests enjoyed refreshments in the lounge while the photographer took additional formal photos of the wedding party. Dinner and reception followed in the hotel’s Heron Ball Room. The DJ made announcements and the microphone was passed among various guests who made personal heartfelt speeches to the couple. Because people traveled to the event from as far away as Hawaii, some family members were meeting either the bride’s or groom’s side of the family for the first time. It was a joyous evening and a very special day for the couple. The groom is still in the military and the couple will reside in North Carolina.

Lee Flowers, wedding planner and owner of A Amore Weddings in Cape Coral, worked long distance with the bride for a year in planning the details to have everything ready when the groom returned from Afghanistan in time for the wedding celebration. Pete Fournier, professional photographer and videographer, was also heavily involved in capturing special moments of the wedding day.

Family, friends, and the public can view this couple’s additional wedding photos at www.amoreweddingsswfl.com select album, right click on this couple’s first photo, then click on “Slideshow” in red at top of page to open slideshow to automatically display photos.