Wedding, Family, & Engagement Photography Blog

An Aladdin Inspired Wedding

03.24.20

An Aladdin Inspired Wedding

Growing up, Disney’s Aladdin was one of my favorite movies. The catchy tunes, the vibrant colors, and Raja, of course … they were/are near and dear to my heart. So the thought of doing an Aladdin inspired wedding was an absolute dream come true.

And with the new live version of Aladdin that was, at the time, coming out (I’m a little late in blogging this post), we knew that we had to create a special shoot to satiate our inner love for all things Disney.

It’s All About Location, Location, Location

We chose the historical Curtiss Mansion as our canvas. Its adobe-style architecture and desert sand-like walls became a natural backdrop.

Vibrant floral arrangements, luxurious gold details, a sparkling bridal gown…and a cozy lounge area with a magic carpet! This styled shoot is the perfect nod to Disney’s Aladdin.

Inspiration

We focused on recreating the bright, bold jewel tone colors of the original cartoon-animated movie we all grew up with and loved. But at the same time, we wanted to ensure that its realism could appeal to the modern couple.

If Aladdin and Jasmine were personified into live-action characters, the team at Blue Orchid Events and Design and the rest of our creative team would imagine that their wealth would reflect a unique, modern twist with its rentals, which you can see with this serpentine white acrylic reception, mirror, and gold rental collection.

The iron details at the Curtiss Mansion add to its charm and an extra nod to our Aladdin inspired wedding. And let’s just take a moment to admire the draping florals by A Lavish Moment Event Design. Aren’t they just gorgeous?!

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect and detailed cake. Two Fat Cookies really took our inspiration and created this magical piece of art. Would you believe it if we told you that the jewels on the cake are all edible? In fact, everything on this cake is edible. And how adorable is little Abu?! Even the jewel and feather looks almost identical to the one the Sultan wore! This cake is utter perfection.

The Smallest Details

Weddings are all about the details. I don’t know what it is about the bride’s ring, but it screams Jasmine to me! But the groom’s ring is absolutely timeless (get it?! Yes, I know, I’m cheesy haha)

A mix of delicate details and the perfect colors of gold, turqouise, and pink make for the perfect stationery.

Look at how handsome our groom is:

What a gorgeous pair they make!!!! 💕

I’m absolutely blown away by their lounge area, accompanied by their very own magic carpet!

This dress and headpiece is exactly what we pictured a modern Jasmine would wear. The jewels in the headpiece and top of the Anna Campbell gown resemble royalty and wealth (hello, Princess Jasmine), while the simplicity and flowing bottom half of the dress shows the bride’s playfulness and need to travel (and can you just imagine how stunning it would look while flying on the magic carpet?!).

This Aladdin inspired wedding couldn’t have happened without the perfect team:

Event Planner: Blue Orchid Events and Design ♥ Bride’s Hair: Kate Blake Artistry ♥ Make up: Hair and Makeup of the Palm Beaches ♥ Wedding Dress: Anna Campbell ♥ Wedding Boutique: The Bridal Project ♥ Groom’s Tuxedo: Manny’s Formal Wear ♥ Florals: A Lavish Event Design ♥ Wedding Venue: Curtiss Mansion ♥ Rentals: Elements and Accents, Nuage Designs, Different Look Rentals ♥ Wedding Cake: Two Fat Cookies ♥ Photography: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Stationery: Paper and Lace

Jenn and Greg’s Mizner Country Club Wedding | Delray Beach

03.19.20

Jenn and Greg’s Mizner Country Club Wedding

Jenn and Greg’s Mizner Country Club Wedding was a dream draped in blush and rose gold! Not to mention a celebration of love and awesomeness!

Fate … It’s Real

Originally from Colorado, Jenn moved to Florida for a job. Greg is a Florida native. Fate would have it that they be brought together through mutual friends on a 4-wheel adventure, where their love story would begin.

I’m absolutely in love with the pops of rose gold throughout Jenn and Greg’s wedding details and decor!

First Look

This trend is definitely a popular one. Its biggest benefits are that it helps to calm your nerves so you’re a whole lot less nervous walking down the aisle and it also allows for more photo opportunities. There is no right answer to whether or not you should do a first look. Jenn and Greg chose to do it so they could enjoy their entire cocktail hour with their guests. Other couples choose to do it because of the timeline and their need to get photos done before it’s too dark out. Choosing to do a first look is entirely up to you!

Now, let’s take a moment to enjoy Jenn and Greg’s beautiful first look moment:

This ceremony arch was custom designed by the bride herself, and built by her love, Greg. Not only is this a great expression of love, but a reflection of teamwork. She had a vision and he brought it to life!

Let’s Get Married

Did I mention that both of their families are big golfers?? Only seems appropriate that they’d be married on a golf course!

Their ceremony was located under a tent in the back of Mizner Country Club, overlooking the golf course.

And we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day or ceremony!

A whole lot of love ….

With just a touch of comic relief …

They’re Officially Mr. and Mrs. McMahon!

On a Personal Note

Weddings are a reflection of the couple, their personalities, and love story. I think that’s the reason I love weddings so much! So when they were planning their Mizner Country Club wedding, they made sure to include a little bit of who they are. For example, see below photo of the custom projection set up at the entrance to the reception room containing their names and wedding date:

Speaking of personal touches, Greg has a major sweet tooth (same, Greg, same) and loves ice cream bars. Mizner Country Club heard his wishes and granted it. During the reception, they rolled out an ice cream machine and set up all the toppings any sweet tooth could imagine! They were also given petits fours and Jenn and Greg made sure everyone got a little something sweet to go home with: a bag of hershey kisses.

They made sure to include their married initials on their cake (by the talented Johnson’s Custom Cakes).

And every wedding should end with a good party! That’s exactly what Jenn and Greg threw … an epic party of dancing and good times!

Event Planner: The Event Group Design and Decor ♥ Bride’s Hair and Make up: Chateau Skin and Beauty ♥ Wedding Dress: Essense of Australia ♥ Wedding Boutique: Bellissima Bride ♥ Groom’s Tuxedo: Tuxedos by Formal Tradition ♥ Florals: The Event Group Design and Decor ♥ Wedding Venue: Mizner Country Club ♥ Officiant: Reverend Jim ♥ DJ: DJ So Pro ♥ Wedding Cake: Johnson’s Custom Cakes ♥ Photography: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Catering: Mizner Country Club

Zoey and Max’s Fieldhouse at Old School Square Wedding

11.26.19

Zoey and Max’s Fieldhouse at Old School Square Wedding

Over the years since moving to Florida, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful people in the wedding industry. And, as you may remember from my post on this engagement session, Zoey and I met at an Addison event. I’ve been so fortunate as to not only have had the pleasure of working with her at other weddings and to continue to grow our friendship on a more personal level, but now have had the honor of photographing Zoey and Max’s Fieldhouse at Old School Square wedding!

Behind Every Good Couple is a Good Love Story

This couple met at a small Irish bar in Boca Raton, O’Brian’s, through a mutual friend. It wasn’t a set-up. Max just decided to meet up with the group and the two ended up connecting and talking the entire night. They didn’t even exchange numbers. He friended Zoey on Facebook and they would chat sporadically, but since they both had upcoming vacations at the time, they didn’t end up going out on an actual date until a month after that night in O’Brian’s!

He Put a Ring on It

A proposal story is only good coming straight from the couple themselves. So here is Zoey on how Max ended up putting a ring on it and they came to planning their Fieldhouse at Old School Square wedding:

“Max and I decided to extend our trip after a friends wedding in Vermont. We drove out to Maine to celebrate my birthday. We both had never been so figured it would be fun to road trip out there and eat a ton of lobster rolls.

That morning we went to this tiny hot diner cart that Max had heard about (since he always researches restaurants when we go out of town). I was super sleepy because I wasn’t sleeping well. Because of this, he thought I was in a bad mood when all I needed was a whole lot of coffee!

As we’re hanging out in this tiny diner, the Ray Charles song, ‘I got a woman’ came on the radio. Instantly, we both smiled. One of the first times I met Max’s friends, we all were hanging out in a bar in Delray. That song came on the radio and he serenaded me. I’ll never forget it, so it was just a funny little moment we shared six years later.

After the diner cart, we went to the picturesque lighthouse in Portland, the one that’s on all of the postcards! We set up a little spot to sit on this field just off to the side of the lighthouse. Max sat down next to me and started pulling cards out of his backpack. This was a bit confusing because my birthday was the day before. He told me to open them all and I started reading these cards from both my family and his family. All I kept thinking was ‘wow, these cards are all so freakin’ nice!’

And then the moment came. He told me that he wanted me to know how much my family and his family loved me, and that we were going to be together forever. At that moment, he pulled out the ring box!

The funny thing was that after he proposed, he told me that he almost abandoned his plan to ask me at the lighthouse. When that song came on the radio at the hot diner cart, he considered asking me right then and there. He was so glad he didn’t because when we got to the light house and stepped out into the fresh air from the car, he said he could tell my mood instantly changed. It was worth waiting for that planned moment. I said ‘we can chalk it up as a great sign!'”

The Fieldhouse at Old School Square Wedding

The Fieldhouse at Old School Square caught the couple’s attention. Since Max and Zoey are a very casual couple, they wanted “something a little more ‘us’ that had an understated charm.” The great thing about the Fieldhouse is that it can be dressed up, or it can be what it is: an old gym with wood floors with exposed ceilings, bringing the nostalgia of a high school dance.

Zoey, being a business owner and homeowner in Delray Beach, really wanted to keep it local. The venue is also located in downtown Delray, with so many great bars around. This provides a great opportunity to continue the party post-wedding!

Zoey and Max's Fieldhouse at Old School Square Wedding: The Fieldhouse at Old School Square in Delray Beach caught the couple's attention. Since Max and Zoey are a very casual couple, they wanted "something a little more 'us' that had an understated charm."

First Look

According to Zoey, “the best part of the wedding day was the first look. I was so nervous once we were actually enroute to the venue. I think if Max and I didn’t have that little moment, it could have been an entirely different experience. It was so amazing to be able to walk up to him, someone who I’ve been with for 6 years at the time, and have him look at me like he never had before. As I mentioned, we are super casual. It was an amazing few minutes to calm our nerves and remember why we were doing this in the first place.”

Personal Touches

Zoey and Max did a lot of things themselves for this wedding. “There weren’t a lot of frills. We made our own centerpieces of terracotta planters with some hand-painted gold detailing to give them a little something extra. They were then filled with succulents. I picked out really vibrant table clothes to be the main decor.”

“We decided not to have a traditional dinner service. Instea, we hired three food trucks giving all of our guests access to eat from all of them. The tables filled with food was certainly a sight! It really was a food fest, considering we also had an insane bounty table of hors d’ouerves and passed items during cocktail hour.”

Not-Your-Average Cake and Dessert Table

“As I mentioned, I own a small bakery owned and operated by my family called Two Fat Cookies. Of course we had a crazy dessert display.

Max really wanted to make the wedding cake, but realized that it may be a better idea to make it together. I baked the cake layers and then he came to the bakery with me. The cake layers were assembled by him, as well as some of the icing. We did the actual detailing together. It really put the icing on the cake … see what I did there!”

Notes from the Bride

“The funny thing is, I never really wanted to have a big wedding. I said for years that we would have a party in the backyard catered by Chipotle. The whole idea of being the center of attention was not for me. I have to say I’m so glad we ended up going for it. It is 100% possible to make your wedding as “you” as you want it to be.

Also, a great friend told me something that really stayed with me, ‘this is the one time that everyone you know and love is going to be there just for you, all together in one room.’ How much better can it get than that?

My advice for anyone planning a wedding is try not to stress yourself out too much! It can be overwhelming at times, but in reality, if 80% of it goes go plan, it’s a success and you’ve married the person that you can’t imagine doing life without!”

Event Planner: Life Love Events ♥ Bride’s Make up: Faces by April ♥ Bride’s Hair: Bridal Styling by Carley Paige ♥ Wedding Dress: Morilee ♥ Wedding Boutique: Madame Bridal ♥ Groom’s Tuxedo: Men’s Warehouse ♥ Wedding Venue: The Fieldhouse at Old School Square ♥ Officiant: Bride and Groom’s good friend, Jason ♥ DJ: Dream Machine ♥ Wedding Cake and Dessert Table: Two Fat Cookies ♥ Photography: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Catering: A Catered Affair

Della Giustina’s Worth Avenue Family Session

09.28.19

The Della Giustina’s Worth Avenue Family Session

A Worth Avenue family session: the Della Giustinas are on a much-needed vacation. With Lindsay expecting their third child in October and Bill’s work schedule being hectic and having to travel often, they figured it was a perfect time for a family vacation.

Worth Avenue

This location is probably one of my favorites in the South Florida area. It offers the best of all worlds. You can take advantage of the beach: with the crystal blue water, small rock jetties, and soft sand. Not a beach person? Use its beautiful architecture as a backdrop! There’s the clock tower, unique walkways and alleys, and stunning staircases. And/or you can utilize the hidden gardens and greenery. Every time I go there, I always find a new spot to explore. What’s not to love about Worth Avenue?

Family Session Time

What was meant to be a beach session, turned out not to be so. It just so happens that the Della Giustina children are not a fan of the sand! 🤣

No sand? No problem! We just continued our journey to one of my favorite hidden spots:

No sand meant a happier family, bigger smiles, and play time!

Mom and Dad kissing?! Ewwwww 🤣This mommy-of-three-to-be is absolutely gorgeous. Congratulations, Lindsay! I hope I get the chance to meet him/her in the near future.

Playing a little game of peek-a-boo with baby:

How beautiful is this family’s Worth Avenue family session? 😍😍😍

Holidays and Holiday Cards

As the holidays are quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about updating those family portraits! Contact me and let’s schedule yours today!

Jennifer and Dre’s Tropical Fort Lauderdale Wedding

09.05.19

Jennifer and Dre’s Tropical Fort Lauderdale Wedding

High school sweethearts, Jennifer and Dre, have been waiting for this day for YEARS. Not many couples can say they made it through high school, college, long distance, and multiple moves still in love. It takes a strong couple, a strong love to overcome all the obstacles that life throws at you, and make it out stronger than ever. That’s exactly what Jenn and Dre did. There was nothing that could keep them apart. And now, they’re finally tying the knot and having their dream tropical Fort Lauderdale wedding at Bahia Mar.

Bahia Mar

Planning your wedding in a separate state is no easy task (as they currently live in Connecticut to pursue their dream jobs). Lucky for Jenn and Dre, they are very familiar with Fort Lauderdale and Bahia Mar. Both originally from Fort Lauderdale, this location holds a special place in their hearts. “We fell in love with Bahia Mar after we saw the brick patio with the accompanying greenery and ocean views. There is also some sentimental value as well, as we had one of our very first dates on Fort Lauderdale beach, across A1A from the Bahia Mar.”

I love it when couples choose to get married at a venue that’s near and dear to them!

The Long-Awaited Wedding Day

The day is finally here! Walking into Jenn’s room, I knew it was going to be a very calm, relaxed day. It was peacefully quiet, with the girls getting their hair and makeup done … everyone just hanging out.

I had competition in the room with me. The flower girl was given a camera as a bridal party gift and she was snapping away! 😆

Finally that time … to put on this gorgeous Maggie Sottero gown!

Meanwhile, in the guys’ room …

First Look

Dre and Jenn wanted to do the first look before heading down the aisle. I love first looks. Not only does it reduce stress and nervousness of walking down the aisle and seeing your significant other for the first time in front of MANY other people, but it also allows this moment to be intimate. It’s just the two of you. It’s your moment. Plus, it’s a photographer’s dream to have more time with the bride and groom. I love the option of having different lighting situations, before and after the ceremony.

In addition, it allows you to enjoy more time during cocktail hour and your reception!

Dad even got a little sneak peek of his daughter before walking her down the aisle:

Saying ‘I Do’

Jenn and Dre’s ceremony was personal and beautiful. Their good friend, Jenna, was their officiant and made sure to include the couples’ personal story throughout the ceremony. And those vows … WOW! They had everyone tearing up!

Cocktail Hour

What’s a tropical wedding in Fort Lauderdale without a steel drum player???

Portraits, Part 2

As mentioned before … I love to work in different lighting situations. The session we did before the ceremony had bright and warm light. Their session before and a little during cocktail hour was a lot cooler and cloudy but still absolutely stunning!

Party Time!!!

How cute are these decorations? Can you say “tropical?” From bright, tropical flower centerpieces to the big Florida welcome sign, it was quite the tropical wedding in Fort Lauderdale!

Helloooooo, cake!!! The buttercream work by We Take the Cake is flawless and I’m sure it tasted as yummy as it looked and smelled!!

Introducing the new Mr. and Mrs.!!!

After the toasts, a few of Dre’s family members took turns giving words of well-wishes.

And then there was cake … 🤤

Let the party commence!

“It’s great to be a Florida Gator.”

Thank you so much for allowing me to celebrate your love and special day with you! Congratulations on your wedding and best wishes (and adventures)!!

Wedding Venue: Bahia Mar ♥ Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero ♥ Wedding Boutique: La Vie en Blanc ♥ Groom’s Tuxedo: Men’s Warehouse ♥ Officiant: Bride and Groom’s good friend, Jenna ♥ Florals: Floral Creations by Blanca ♥ DJ: Eddie B. and Company ♥ Wedding Cake: We Take the Cake ♥ Bride’s Hair and Make up: Divine Beauty Artists

« Older posts Newer posts »

An Aladdin Inspired Wedding

An Aladdin Inspired Wedding

It’s All About Location, Location, Location

Inspiration

The Smallest Details

Jenn and Greg’s Mizner Country Club Wedding | Delray Beach

Jenn and Greg’s Mizner Country Club Wedding

Fate … It’s Real

First Look

Let’s Get Married

On a Personal Note

Zoey and Max’s Fieldhouse at Old School Square Wedding

Zoey and Max’s Fieldhouse at Old School Square Wedding

Behind Every Good Couple is a Good Love Story

He Put a Ring on It

The Fieldhouse at Old School Square Wedding

First Look

Personal Touches

Not-Your-Average Cake and Dessert Table

Notes from the Bride

Della Giustina’s Worth Avenue Family Session

The Della Giustina’s Worth Avenue Family Session

Worth Avenue

Family Session Time

Holidays and Holiday Cards

Jennifer and Dre’s Tropical Fort Lauderdale Wedding

Jennifer and Dre’s Tropical Fort Lauderdale Wedding

Bahia Mar

The Long-Awaited Wedding Day

First Look

Saying ‘I Do’

Cocktail Hour

Portraits, Part 2

Party Time!!!

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