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Get ready for one of the cutest engagement sessions, ever.    I am so excited to introduce you to Amber and Tyler.   When Amber first contacted me about her engagement session, it was clear that she had some fabulous ideas in mind and it was so much fun working together with her and Tyler to bring their vision to life.    We emailed back and forth with lots of “!!!!” and “:-)” as we excitedly planned and schemed, rescheduled once due to rain, and finally got together for their session.   Engagement sessions are really such a wonderful way for a couple to spend an afternoon together (plus me, of course) and have fun in a really laid back environment,  while getting to know and feel comfortable with their photographer and capture a more playful, less serious side of their relationship.   Amber and Tyler are both Auburn alumni (I did inform them that my family’s blood runs Crimson, which thankfully they didn’t hold against me!)  and so we incorporated that fact, as well as a few other little country touches into their vintage-rustic styled session.  If you know me, or have followed my blog for any amount of time, you know I LOVE styled shoots.    However, as with most things in life, I try to follow the “less is more” philosophy and not go too overboard with props, etc.   I love that this session incorporates special touches that are meaningful to Amber and Tyler, but keeps the main focus (no pun intended) on this sweet couple and their relationship.  Being in love truly is the best accessory there is!   We also had the pleasure of having my friends Alex and Sammantha from Imprint Cinema there to capture some of Amber and Tyler’s engagement session, as well as some behind the scenes moments.   You can view a mini-film of their session on the Imprint Cinema blog: http://imprintcinema.com/blog/, as well as some more of Alex and Samm’s amazing work!   I just love their style so much, and am always amazed at how perfectly their films compliment still photography.   Congratulations to Amber and Tyler, and best wishes for many happy months of engaged bliss!

Today I bring you the lovely Leu Gardens wedding of Ashley and Steve!   While Ashley’s plans for an outdoor ceremony in the Rose Garden were thwarted by the Florida rain, we were once again blessed with clear skies for all but about 15 minutes of the day, allowing us to get some gorgeous pre-ceremony photos and amazing portraits of the bride and groom afterwards.    The one nice thing about a wedding day sprinkle (besides the rumored good luck it brings), is that it makes everything so lush and green!  Leu Gardens is such a gorgeous backdrop to begin with that it certainly doesn’t need any help in the “looks” department, but I dare say Mother Nature outdid herself this day.    Ashley was radiant and so go-with-the-flow about the whole rain/last minute change of location.    It was clear that her #1 priority was marrying the love of her life, and all the other elements were just icing on the cake.    Same goes for her handsome groom, Steve.  I adore the way he’s looking at her in the shots of them together….total love!!   These two are so sweet together, and it was such a joy photographing them all over the gardens.   Enjoy the beauty of their special day!

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, FL

DJ: Marc Burgess

Caterer: Arthur’s Catering

Flowers: Publix, Melbourne, FL

Cake: Publix, Melbourne, FL

Hair Stylist: Margaret Snider (Panache Studio, Melbourne, FL)

Bride’s Dress: Aurora Bridal, Essence of Australia

Groom’s Suit:  Jos. A. Bank

There is so much that I love about this couple and their wedding, that it’s hard for me to sum it up (and even harder to pick which images to post for their sneak peek!)   Katie and Jamie are inspired, creative, a little bit eclectic and funky, and totally unique.   So, it’s no surprise that their wedding was FULL of incredible details and personal touches.    Hints of vintage glamour and whimsy transformed the Winter Park Farmer’s Market into an Anthropologie-esque wonderland.   The most impressive part of it all?  The beautiful flowers, decorations and little special touches were almost ALL done by the bride, her mom and her aunt.    The food (4Rivers!) and music (what I wouldn’t give to get my hands on their wedding playlist….) weren’t too shabby either!   Katie and Jamie have been together for quite a while, and have a sweet precious baby, Miss Ellie Rose, together.   I absolutely adore that they had her participate in part of the ceremony.  I hope she’ll look back on these photos one day and treasure that she got to be a part of her mom and dad’s wedding!   Enjoy all the gorgeousness from their day!

Katie and Jamie got ready at different hotels, but were both in room 526….totally unplanned, but surely a good sign. 

Katie’s bridesmaids each wore their own dress and picked out the flowers for their individual bouquets.  Love this idea. 

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Winter Park Farmer’s Market

Wedding Coordinator: Tickled Pink Brides

Flowers: Bride, Mother of the Bride and Aunt of the Bride

Decor: Southern Vintage

DJ: The Orlando DJ

Catering: 4Rivers Smokehouse

Cupcakes: Sweet! By Good Golly Miss Holly

Kettle Corn: Mountain Kettle Corn (WP Farmer’s Market)

Dress: David’s Bridal

Shoes: Nine West

Hair: Jessica LaRoy; Makeup: MAC (Altamonte)

Groom’s Suit: Express, Ties: J. Crew

Bridesmaids dresses: each bridesmaid wore a dress of their own

If vintage/rustic-chic weddings were the hot thing last year…. beachy, breezy and sophisticated seems to be the trend this spring and summer, and I LOVE it!  I am so lucky that I get to travel for weddings, especially to locations as gorgeous as this.   Adam and Elizabeth rented an insane beach house in Vero Beach for their entire wedding weekend.    So not only did they have a perfect backdrop for their ceremony and reception, but an amazing weekend getaway for their bridal party.    Venues such as this private residence offer so many options for great photos.    I hope this is an idea that catches on like wildfire, because it’s so much fun and such a cool departure from the more traditional wedding venues (which I also love, but it’s good to mix it up now and then!)   So, onto the lovely couple.   I had the opportunity to work with Elizabeth and Adam on a couple of different occasions prior to their wedding, which was a great way for me to get to know both of them and for them to feel as comfortable and relaxed with me as possible on their big day.    I just have to say, they are like the cutest, most in-love couple ever.    Even the officiant said during the ceremony that he had never seen a happier couple and it’s true!  I don’t think Elizabeth could have stopped smiling all day even if she wanted to.   She remarked at one point that her cheeks were hurting from smiling so much, but of course she was still smiling, even then.  I guess that’s what happens when you’re in love  And the guy this adorable, tiny blonde bride can thank for making her smile so much, is her oh-so-handsome groom!   Once again, the weather was kind enough to cooperate and stay beautiful most of the day.  We had a few drops of rain at the very start of the ceremony, but they disappeared just as quickly as they appeared, and the only thing they left behind were some vibrant colors and dramatic skies.    I joke that I’m a good luck charm at weddings, because I’ve only ever had it really rain….once.  Yes, once.  A fact I’m pretty impressed with considering I’ve photographed over 35 weddings in FLORIDA!   Hopefully that’s a record I can keep through April and May.  I can’t believe I only have just a handful of weddings left before baby B arrives in June, I am going to miss my brides and grooms!   But I know September will be here before I know it, and I’m really excited about getting to spend some uninterrupted time with my boys and my new, sweet girl.   For now though, let’s enjoy the beauty of Adam and Elizabeth’s perfect day…

I just love these shots my 2nd shooter, Jessica, got of the groom’s adorable, excited, nervous face just before he saw his bride! 

sweetest first look ever….

Elizabeth’s parents have this same shot from their wedding day, so we did our best to re-create it and keep the tradition going…