Isabella + Drew got married in one of Miami's oldest buildings in downtown which is now home to a church. The most beautiful thing about this church is that Isabella's parents and her grandparents were married at the same place! It was such an honor to be a part of a 3rd generation saying vows in such a personal location. As a native North Carolinian, I was thrilled to hear they had ties to the south. Drew lived in Charlotte and they met in college in the mountains of Virginia. This wedding was so uniquely them and lots of friends and family came together from all over the world to make their day special! I loved their first blind look as they held hands around the corner and they started off their ceremony with a slide show entitled "The Story of Drew + Bella". After their incredible breakfast buffet, we ventured to Brickell Key's Mandarin Oriental Hotel and took photos on their oasis surrounded by water, palm trees, and the skyline. 

Thank you both for allowing me to document the next chapter in your love story and come see my Drew and I in Rome! 

Drew and I love being hybrid photographer and videographers. So we love whenever a couple wants us to do both as we capture their wedding day. We brought in the talented Jennifer of Cortiella Photography to help photograph the day! T+C are so bright, full of energy, and clearly totally in love! Miami is turning into a small world, while T was trying on wedding dresses, she started talking with another bride who was in for her last fitting. It just so happened to be one of our friends and bride Andrea! (See out blog of her stunning wedding HERE). SO grateful Andrea recommended us because we adored this unique and intimate wedding. I knew the day was going to be perfect when T had the idea of having a pillow fight with her bridesmaids! I love seeing couples just have fun on their wedding day. That's what I treasure about intimate weddings. The groom was no different, he was striking poses and looked so Miami GQ with his cigar and jacket over his shoulder. He even had flowers delivered to her room with a special note before the ceremony. Gahhh how special and thoughtful!

​If you want more proof of their adorableness, here's how he proposed, from the bride:

They got ready at the Riverside Hotel and had their dinner reception at the Lobster Bar Sea Grille in downtown Fort Lauderdale. I loved taking photos down by the river with the river boats chugging along in the background. 

Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your day! 

One of my favorite things about being a wedding photographer in Miami is the amazing couples I get to meet from all over the world! A+J met in DC, have been together for over decade, and both fell in love with this tropical city when A worked here. So it was only perfect they said their "I do"s beneath the palm trees. It had been raining what seemed like all month, but this Thursday morning, the rain stopped and the clouds provided my favorite photographing weather. We then ventured to the famous Vizcaya Gardens. 

It truly feels like Venice with the weather stone, bridges, water, and colors! A+J will eventually have two traditional weddings. One in honor of A's Sri Lankan heritage, and one Catholic ceremony in J's home country. I love that they wanted a micro wedding and intimate ceremony to celebrate the next chapter of their lives. I'll let their love and their amazing surroundings do the talking!

Drew and I love being wedding photographers in Miami and it's sweet couples like A+M that will make us miss Florida when we move to North Carolina for a month before we head off to Rome, Italy! We actually have one wedding in Raleigh while we're there, and we're in the process of booking couples who want session while we're in Rome! This wedding was so super Miami, it was amazing. From the rain to the colors to the all night dancing! We were singing Despacito and Vivir Mi Vida all the way home.

From the newlyweds:

"It all started with a quesadilla and a pizza. Okay, that’s a little cheesy. But that meal at Sunset Tavern in South Miami was Mike and Andrea’s first together even though they grew up two miles apart and were separated by one year at the University of Miami. The distinctly South Florida couple fell in love in Miami, overcame the challenges of a long-distance relationship, and are now thriving in Connecticut; Mike teaching public relations as a college professor and Andrea helping Hartford’s youth as a social worker. Mike and Andrea may reside in Connecticut, but the couple calls Miami “home.” Returning to Miami is a special occurrence for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and now, an amazing day."  

The beautiful ceremony took place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church followed by a festive reception at Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club. Their loved radiated even in downpour. Thankfully we had a few minutes of dry and we ran out to the golf course for photos and to find some of the peacocks! Their wedding party was equally enthusiastic and supportive as we took some group photos in the drizzle. It was a first for us to have a mascot show up to the party! The crowd went nuts with the University of Miami Ibis walked through the doors. 

We truly loved celebrating and singing with A+M and we wish y'all all the best!

Andrea and Jeff's wedding day in For Lauderdale, Florida was one of the most relaxed and easygoing Drew and I have covered. Their engagement photos with their pup was soooo much fun so I knew wedding day would be a breeze. I dropped Drew off at Jeff's amazing apartment with views of the skyline while I headed to the beach to capture Andrea getting ready with her bridesmaids and moms. Andrea glowed in her off the shoulder, classic lace, sweet heart gown and the pops of green were the perfect compliment to the neutral and spring time pallet. Their first look was so wonderful! If you don't know by now, Drew and I are huuuuge fans of first looks. Wedding days tend to be a hectic and the couple is constantly surrounded by people. The first look is a time where they can have that special and intimate moment together. Drew and I always like taking a few snaps of the reaction then stepping away so they can have a moment with each other.

The Bonnet House is the most beautiful location. You can actually go take a tour of the grounds! This historic 1920's ocean front home is full of color, textures, and plants. It's a little oasis in the middle of Fort Lauderdale! Their touching ceremony took place beneath the palm trees and was centered around their love story. It was so unique because the officiant went through how they met, funny side stories, who was important along the journey, and even recognized their parents during the ceremony. Their reception was a party! Drew and I have never seen so many guests stay until the end and dance the entire time. It was a clear testament of how much their friends and family love these two and continued celebrating long after we left. 

We truly adore Andrea and Jeff and it was such an honor to dance along side them and capture so many special memories! Come visit us in Rome please!!!

This wedding was so beyond special! If you follow me on Instagram you know I can't stop gushing about Laura and Tyler and the amazing weekend. Laura and Tyler are two friends I met in Raleigh, North Carolina before Drew and I moved to Miami, Florida. They're originally from Texas where they first met in middle school, starting dating in high school, went to college, and then were engaged! You can read all about their amazing proposal story on The Knot's How He Asked. I was sad to leave the Triangle so soon after befriending this amazing couple but we managed to stay in touch. I was blessed, humbled, and honored when they asked me to photograph their wedding. It was like my own proposal story! They picked me up from the airport when I flew back into Raleigh for a wedding, took me to my favorite tea house in Chapel Hill, and popped the question! Haha that is the kind of genuine, thoughtful, and loving humans they are.

I knew this wedding would be a dream come true and it exceeded anything I could dream up! Obviously they're a model status couple, the rustic chic details were lovely, and their locations were to die for. But the whole weekend was a gift! I was able to stay with Laura's group of friends, The Squad, go to rehearsal dinner, and be welcomed like family. I'm already ready for the next Squad gathering! I think Rome, Italy might be a contender location! (If you haven't heard, Drew and I will be moving to Rome from October 11-January 8 followed by a few months on New Zealand's South Island and Trollhattan, Sweden.)  

I love how everything came together from the matching PJs, to the dried flower bouquets and mixed bridesmaids dresses, to the notes and first looks, to the handmade signs and the pizza bar! I adore the school pride photos too! I think the sassy wedding party are my favorite ever because it wasn't even my idea haha! I could go on and on about how joyful this celebration was and how much I love L+T. So please enjoy these sweet moments (I just posted like all the because I couldn't choose) and thank you times a billion Laura and Tyler for letting me join the festivities!!

Venue: Oaks at Heavenly
Second Photographer: Jessica Chole Photography
Videographer: The Crakes
Flowers: Honey Petals
Cake: Cakes and More Bakery
HMUA: Beauty Concepts 22
Catering: Heavenly Gourmet
Gown: BHLDN
Veil: Camilla Christine
Bridesmaid Dresses: Adrianna Papell
Paper Invitations: Science of Papercraft in Nashville

Amazing Video by The Crakes! San Antonio/Austin brides hire them! They're amazing! 

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GSavannah and Todd overflow light and love. Their wedding day was no different. I had the honor of photographing their amazing day that the ocean side Thalatta Estate in Coral Gables. Every detail was so carefully planned and thought out. Savannah had personal notes and gifts for her bridesmaids, flower girls, father, and groom to be. Her bridesmaids and mom and mother-in-law had matching robes, t-shirts, and of course champagne glasses. Todd also had gifts for his groomsmen and bride to be. Todd received gifts in memory of his father from Savannah and his mom and the emotions waterfalled from there. Her first look with her dad brought me chills and Todd's first look of his wife brought tears. AH everything was perfect because their love for each other, with Christ at the center, is also clearly so perfect. I loved that I was able to take engagement photos of them (you can find them HERE) because wedding day was just celebrating two good friends. We caught sunset, toasted, and danced the night away. They were surrounded by so many supportive friends and family and it was the most beautiful party launching them into their new chapter together as one.

Thank you for letting Drew and capture your day!!

And thanks to these amazing vendors!
Venue: Thallata Estate
Desserts: Bunnie Cakes & Mojo Donuts
DJ: ​MPE Events
Gown: ​Merlili Bridal Boutique
Catering: ​Sandbar Sports Grill Cutler Bay
Videography: Anthony LaRocca of Eloah Films

She's from the US. He's from Australia. She's in insurance. He work on yachts. The universe brought these two love birds together from opposite sides of the world to create a perfect match! Before meeting, Erin didn't have a single stamp in her passport, but now with her remote job and his adventurous spirit, they get to travel the world together, hand in hand, sharing life and exploring new experiences together. Their wedding day was so unique and personal. They rented this beautiful modern castle on the Middle River and piled all their family from all over the world under one roof. Leading up to the wedding they truly became family cooking, cleaning, and hanging out by the pool. Their wedding day was filled with their closest friends and family, many of whom traveled all the way from Australia to celebrate Erin + Sol's big day. The ladies got ready in the green house atrium with views of the water while Drew hopped on a boat for a few hours and took a spin along the river. Their sunset ceremony on the rooftop was magical as the sun dipped behind the Fort Lauderdale skyline. I even took out my drone to capture all the guests and scenery! Erin is a singer and used to sing at weddings so she knows how to throw a party. Drew and I could't help but dance along! We felt immediately welcomed by their crew and loved every moment honoring Erin + Sol! Congratulations and can't wait to see where in the world y'all end up next :) 

Emily and Ethan's intimate family ceremony at Miami Beach Botanical garden was a dream! When I first spoke with them on the phone we realized what a small world we live in . Emily is from Raleigh, NC and grew up down the street from where I lived! They live in New York, but treasure the South Beach neighborhood. Their vision was to combine their Christian and Jewish backgrounds with their current shamanic journey. They pulled it off effortlessly! While getting ready we got to hear about how Emily and Ethan met at school in New York, fell in love in Miami Beach at Art Basel, and how they've been able to support each other through job changes and life goals. They both love to travel, fine dining, yoga, and exploring. They've both embarked and committed to a life of transformation together.  This started when they both left our toxic NY jobs to discover and pursue their passions. Ethan started teaching yoga this past year, Emily is following Peruvian shamanic practices, and their now working on a new online business venture selling all natural plant and mineral based tinctures and supplements. 

I'm a big fan of first looks because the couple gets to speand a few moments together to take it all. Their Japanese Garden location was full of emotion and love. It was especially special because he proposed to Emily in the Japanese garden at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens during the Cherry Blossom festival. 

Earth elements were important and they started their wedding ceremony with cleansing sage and sacred palo santo. Their ceremony table had crystals like pink quartz for love and passion, clear quartz for power, moon stone's the milky radiance of this crystal represents tenderness, and is believed to bring lovers closer together, and green calcite will help you to create the energy of abundance so that intentions can blossom into realities. They also included several traditional Christian and Jewish sacraments like blessing wine, walking around each other seven times to signify breaking down walls, and breaking glass in remembrance of the shattering of the Jewish temples.

Their intimate, micro wedding was a treasure to be a part of and I adored witnessing the blending of family, faith, and love! They made the entire day a personal love story and celebration and their new chapter together. Thank you for letting me join in the festivities! 

I first Miriam and Owen over tea at my favorite French Cafe on Española Way in Miami Beach. I got to hear about how they met, how she bet him to dance on a table on one of their first dates, and how he had his eye on her engagement ring in a little jewelry shop in New York for years. Their wedding took place at the amazing Miami Beach Botanic Gardens beneath a stunning Banyan tree. Miriam's vision with vibrant and tropical florals fit the day and their personalities perfectly. They're energetic, full of life, and were ready to dance the night away. Their first look was perfect as Owen burst into the biggest smile! We then wandered the gardens and adventured into the Japanese gardens. Their ketubah signing was family centric and a beautiful tradition. The sun started to set and the cafe lights sparkled as Miriam's dad walked her down the aisle. My favorite part of their ceremony was the officiant's rap! I hope someone got it on video, but in the mean time check out some of his other mashups HERE.  I loved seeing everyone in cocktail hour mingle from all over the country and loved that guests rarely stepped off the dance floor. This wedding was a joy to work especially because Drew got to work with me!  Thank you M+O for allowing us to be a part of such a wonderful evening and start to you lives together! 

Thank you to these amazing vendors who helped make the day so amazing! 
​
Venue: Miami Beach Botanical Gardens
Planners: Carla Ruben, Lindsey  DiSarro, Chelsea Vernon
Catering: Creative Edge Parties, NYC & Miami FL
Flowers: ​Xclusive Concept by Sahid
DJ: ​Scratch Weddings - DJ AK Vybz
​Makeup: ​Colleen Stone Make Up, Miami FL
Dress: ​Leggenda Bridal, Coral Gables FL
Officiant: ​Rabbi Joshua Franklin