This is officially the longest engagement session post we’ve ever done, and it’s 100% due to the fact that I am obsessed with every single shot of Sarah and Eddie.  Seriously.  I think I went through about 15 “favorite” shots as I worked through the film, and I’m still stuck.  So I posted tons.  Enjoy!

We shot in two locations: downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach.  This shoot reminds me why I love to live here, and why people from all over the world come here for vacation…

Some of you may remember that it rained all day last Friday.  ALL.  DAY.  And not just drizzles either – full on, balls to the wall, thunder and lighting and sheeting rain.  I watched the storms from the comfort of my kitchen window, constantly checking my watch and the weather app on my phone, hoping beyond hope that a miracle would happen in time for Rebecca and Clay’s beachfront wedding in Grayton Beach.  My windshield wipers worked overtime as I drive through Pensacola…then Navarre…then Destin…then on 30A…and when the downpour finally stopped, it was replaced by a biting, whipping wind that was just as bad (almost) as the storm had been.  Fifteen minutes before the ceremony, we decided to go for it outside, admitting that the wind might be an issue, but at least it wasn’t raining.  And then – as Rebecca opened the door to walk to her groom – the wind died.  Totally.  And the sun started to burn through the clouds.  And we ended up with the best sunset of the year so far as the backdrop to this lovely, elegant, and meaningful wedding.  (Teach me to be a pessimist!).  Here are a few of my faves.

So, Eden Gardens is one of my very favorite places on the Gulf Coast.  It is a stone’s throw from the beach, abuts a beautiful bayou, and grows graceful oaks dripping with Spanish moss . . . so I was psyched when Gail and Josh asked me to photograph their destination wedding there.  It was a pleasure: I love that both Gail and Josh had clearly put tons of thought and care into every detail, from the homemade cake stand to the wedding Mad Libs to the wine flown in from their local vineyard in California.  Besides, who doesn’t love a wedding featuring T-Rex cake toppers??

Venue | Eden Gardens State Park

Fashion |  Watters Bridal

Bride’s Sash & Headband |  Etsy

Cakes |  Flown in from Junior’s Cheesecakes in New York City!

Florals |  Myrtie Blue

Wine |  Wente Vineyards, San Francisco

Honey Stick Favors |  The Honey Lady at the Cheyenne, Wyoming Farmer’s Market

Cake Toppers | Handmade by Gail and Josh

Cake Stand | Handmade by Gail’s father

Bridal Party’s Jewelry | Handmade by Gail’s mother

Gail’s mother MADE this necklace (and her dad made the incredible cakestand underneath).  Impressive, right?

How awesome are these rings?  (The cotton in the centerpieces is pretty rockin’ too.)

Yes, the groom T-Rex has a mustache.  (Just saying.)

I didn’t meet Mitch and Erica until the week of their wedding, so I didn’t know what to expect from this Iowa couple . . . but from the minute they walked into Bagelheads for a pre-wedding coffee pow-wow, I was so excited to be a part of their day (by the way, I have never written “pow-wow” before and had to look up the spelling – it can be alternately pow-wow, powwow, or pau-wau, in case you were wondering.  Weird.).  They are both sweet and genuine, and now I secretly want to be friends not only with them, but with their bridal party as well.  I’ve never laughed so hard!

ceremony venue saint anne catholic church in west pensacola

reception venue apple annie’s ballroom at seville quarter in downtown pensacola

bridal gown bridal suite

flowers blooms a million

beignets seville quarter

trolley  five flags trolley company

I used to live in Savannah.  And you know what?  It was pretty.  Then I moved away.  Two years later, Amy and Will invited me to be their photographer at their destination wedding – in Savannah…  For the first time, I saw the city through a visitor’s eyes, and I was BLOWN AWAY.  It’s odd how you can see something every day without really seeing it.

Amy and Will’s wedding was incredible.  Every location and detail was thoughtfully and beautifully designed and their wedding certainly did justice to the grace of Savannah.  I knew I was in for something special when I was tearing up before 10 o’clock in the morning!

ceremony venue Forsyth Park

reception venue Avia Savannah

florals Garden on the Square

fashion Clarice’s Bridal (in Saint Louis)

music DJ Chevy

sweets Kerry O’Connor Cake Designs

The Savannah Courthouse, as seen from Amy’s balcony…

If you want to make your mother cry, surprise her with a live performance of Taylor Swift’s “The Best Day” the morning of your wedding.  It worked for Amy!

How many bridesmaids does it take . . . ?

Maybe my favorite father-son shot ever?

One of my favorite things about Jennie and Rick’s wedding was the obvious closeness of their family; I was thrilled when they asked me to shoot an impromptu family session on the beach the next day!  These are a few of my favorites…  The beautiful Turks and Caicos sunset was a treat!

All it took was a sideways suggestion that the kids should jump, and the family was airborne!  Love it.

I love this series.  1. Before…

2. During…

3. The Aftermath!

I love to travel.  I love Rick and Jennie.  I love weddings.  This equals one awesome destination wedding weekend!  I usually try to keep my blog posts to 40 photos or so.  This one tops out at almost 100.  I just couldn’t choose!  I think you can see why!

Also, Rick can do an outrageous Chewbacca impression.  It is particularly effective when done into a microphone at his wedding reception.

Beach weddings generally mean flip flops, which are super-comfortable but not particularly photogenic.  Louboutins are much better!!

This incredible steel drum band was made up of middle-schoolers from the local school on Turks and Caicos.  The proceeds went straight back to the school’s music program.  They were AMAZING.

Usually, the marriage license is signed in a corner somewhere as the couple rushes off to the reception.  I really appreciated that the officiant made the signing part of the ceremony.  Also, how much prettier is this backdrop than a dark corner somewhere?

No coloring books for the kids at this wedding!  Just the Caribbean…

So, I shoot destination weddings all the time, but usually, I’m the destination!  It was such a treat to have the opportunity to journey with the bride and groom to a destination far away from Pensacola Beach.  I wasn’t expecting to be as stunned by the Caribbean’s turquoise waters as I was (after all – we live on the Emerald Coast!), but they were SPECTACULAR.  Turks and Caicos – I will come whenever you call

On the morning of Jennie and Rick’s wedding, I set an alarm and had some photography fun during sunrise.  It was just me, tidal pools, and fishing boats.  These are a few of my favorite shots.

Jessica and Matt are the couple who was willing to (and wanted to!) climb gigantic trees at their engagement session.  I have been looking forward to their wedding ever since then.  Of course, it didn’t disappoint!  Their families were as friendly and funny as the couple.  This is the only wedding where I was actually swept out onto the dance floor and forced to boogie in between shots!

They chose beautiful locations for all elements of their wedding (so important from a photography standpoint!).  Jessie’s parents rented an unbelievable downtown loft for the girls to use to get ready (best getting ready location of any wedding I’ve ever shot!).  The ceremony was at DeLuna Landing the end of Palafox Pier, and the tropical-themed reception was at the always-elegant Palafox Wharf.

(Oh – and did I mention that Jessica is a fellow Yale alum?  Say what?  Say-BROOK!)

So, Maggie and Mike are from Missouri.  And you know what?  If you’re from a landlocked state, and want to get married on the beach, I’m pretty sure you can’t choose a prettier town than Seaside, Florida (it’s where they shot The Truman Show, folks!).  The waters and sands are breathtaking, and the town itself is picture-perfect.  I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of shooting in such a lovely location – with such a beautiful couple!

The tables were named after famous couples – you know, Romeo and Juliet and the like . . . I knew for sure that I was obsessed with this couple when I saw the “Zack and Kelly” table.  Shakespeare and Saved by the Bell attending the same party is pretty much my idea of perfect.

This shot was actually my last shot of the night!  Great end to a fabulous wedding.