Britney + Ryan Step Into The Limelight | The Don CeSar | St. Pete, FL

Britney and Ryan’s wedding was a beautiful blend of elegance, emotion, and personal details that made the entire day feel incredibly special.

 Their story began on Hinge, followed by their first date on September 17, 2023, and later a romantic proposal at sunset at La Playa. Ryan planned a private dinner on the beach, surrounded by roses and a custom menu featuring Britney’s favorite foods. It was intimate, thoughtful, and completely unexpected, the perfect reflection of their relationship.

The wedding itself felt timeless. The Catholic Cathedral, the coastal setting, the shades of blue, and the subtle Old Hollywood inspiration came together in such an elegant way. Every detail felt intentional, yet nothing felt overly styled. It simply felt like them.

 From the moment I walked into the bridal room, Britney was absolutely radiant. In fact, she looked so beautiful that I walked in and immediately knocked over my suitcase. Not exactly the graceful entrance I had planned, but definitely a moment I will remember. Throughout the entire day, she carried such an effortless beauty and elegance. There was something about the way she moved, smiled, and took in every moment that made her presence impossible not to notice.

 Seeing her enter the church was one of the most beautiful moments of the day. She looked breathtaking walking down the aisle, and watching Ryan become emotional as he saw her was incredibly moving. Those few seconds said so much without anyone needing to say a word.

The reception was just as beautiful, filled with warmth, laughter, and thoughtful details. One of my favorites had to be the wedding cake with the little figurines of their dogs. It was such a charming and personal touch, and it immediately won my heart.

 And, of course, every wedding needs at least one unexpected moment to make the story complete. During cocktail hour, the button used to secure the train of Britney’s dress for dancing decided to break, adding just a little extra excitement to the evening. It was a brief moment of stress, but also one of those things that becomes part of the memory. I just hope it stayed in place after I left!

From the ceremony to the reception, everything felt refined, romantic, and full of emotion. The beauty of the day was not only in the décor or the setting, but in the way Britney and Ryan looked at each other, the reactions of their families, the laughter, the dancing, and all the small moments in between.

 It was truly an honor to be part of such a meaningful day and to capture these memories for them. Britney and Ryan, thank you for allowing me to be part of such a special moment in your lives.

Lead Photographer | Natalia Fontes
Associate Photographer | Jalyssa Ellis

Bridesmaid Dresses |  Azazie
Cake | Don Cesar
Caterer | Don Cesar
Ceremony Site | St. Jude
DJ | DJ Shane Company- Joe Redman
Event Planner | Blue Skies
Florist | Iza’s Flowers
Hair Stylist | Destiny & Light
Invitations | Zola
Make-up Artist | Destiny & Light
Reception Venue | Don Cesar
Wedding Gown | Vow’d

Kayla + Eric Step Into The Limelight | The Don CeSar | St. Pete, FL

A Little Rain, A Lot of Joy | Kayla & Eric’s Beachside Wedding

Kayla and Eric’s wedding at the iconic The Don CeSar felt less like a wedding and more like the kind of movie you never want to end. The kind where everyone is laughing too loud, dancing barefoot, hugging every five minutes, and pretending they are “just going to have one drink” before somehow ending up on the dance floor until the very last song.

From the second I arrived, I could already feel it, this wasn’t going to be one of those overly serious, perfectly posed weddings where everyone is afraid to wrinkle their clothes. This was joy. Real joy. The kind that fills a room instantly and makes even the vendors feel like family by the end of the night. As a photographer, I honestly felt honored to be part of such a special day. Kayla and Eric have this warmth about them that makes everyone around them feel included, relaxed, and loved. Their energy was contagious in the best possible way.

And can we talk about Kayla for a second? Because wow. She looked like she had walked straight out of a fairytale. Not in the cliché Pinterest way, in the “how is this person actually real?” kind of way. Between the ocean breeze, the dreamy pink tones of the Don CeSar, and her dress moving perfectly with the wind, she looked absolutely unreal. 

But honestly? The most beautiful thing that day was Eric’s face every single time he looked at her. His eyes absolutely lit up. And here’s the funny part, the weather decided it also wanted to be dramatic and emotionally involved in the wedding. Florida weather truly said, “You know what this ceremony needs? Plot twists.”

Right around ceremony time, the skies started changing faster than anyone could keep up with. The rain arrived exactly when sunset portraits were supposed to happen because apparently the weather had its own agenda that day. But instead of panicking, these two laughed through it all like absolute champions.

And yes… I absolutely convinced them to stand in the rain on the hotel terrace for sunset photos anyway. Photographer priorities. While everyone else was trying to stay dry, there we were on the rooftop terrace of the Don CeSar chasing whatever tiny bit of sunset light Florida decided to generously leave us. I’m pretty sure at one point I said something along the lines of, “Trust me, this suffering is temporary but the photos are forever.” Thankfully, Kayla and Eric are the kind of couple who make everything fun, so instead of stressing about the weather, they embraced it completely.

Honestly? It ended up feeling cinematic. The wind, the rain, the dramatic sky behind them, Kayla looking like an actual fairytale princess, and Eric staring at her like she was the only thing in the world that existed. Even with the storm rolling through and rain washing over the terrace, his expression when he looked at her was still the brightest thing there.

Their story started in the most modern way possible, meeting on Hinge and having their first date at an arcade in Cambridge. Which honestly makes perfect sense once you meet them because they genuinely are best friends first. You can feel it in every interaction. They laugh constantly, tease each other nonstop, and move through life like two people who truly enjoy simply existing together. Whether they are cooking at home, traveling somewhere new, trying restaurants, or just going on walks together, they bring lightness into each other’s lives in such a natural way.

Their wedding reflected exactly who they are: relaxed, fun, emotional, beachy, stylish without trying too hard, and centered around the people they love most. Nothing felt forced. Nothing felt performative. It felt real. And those are always the weddings that stay with me long after the galleries are delivered.

By the end of the night, everyone’s hair had officially surrendered to the humidity, shoes had disappeared somewhere near the dance floor, and nobody cared anymore because the energy was just that good. It was one of those weddings where you leave exhausted, emotionally invested, and ridiculously grateful you got to witness it.

Kayla and Eric, thank you for letting me be part of your story. Your wedding was beautiful, emotional, hilarious, full of unexpected weather drama, and absolutely unforgettable in every possible way.

Lead Photographer | Natalia Fontes
Associate Photographer | Adrian Nguyễn

Bridesmaid Dresses |  Azazie
Cake | The Don Cesar
Caterer | The Don Cesar
Ceremony Site | The Don Cesar
DJ | Platinum Entertainment 
Event Planner | Blue Skies
Florist | Iza’s Flowers
Hair Stylist | Adore Bridal
Make-up Artist | Adore Bridal
Reception Venue | The Don Cesar
Wedding Gown | Alexandra's Boutique
Officiant | Chad Bay Chapel

Lauren + Dan Step Into The Limelight | TradeWinds Island Grand Resort | Saint Petersburg, FL

Lauren & Dan met at a kick off event for their MBAs at Rice University and hatted off immediately!
These two truly compliment each other… she’s the planner and he is the spontaneous one. #balance
They enjoy smoking cigars, running, hiking, watching shows, listening to audiobooks and photography…

Dan is quite the photographer! He shoots and she models ❤ and what a true beauty she is!
We loved capturing Lauren & Dan’s coolness together, they just ooze “chill”.  We had the most amazing sunset and their love for each other naturally shined through. We loved how they soaked in each moment of the day together and enjoyed their time with family and close friends.
We will call this day… chill and classy with a modern twist. From Lauren’s stunning lace and open back dress, to the classic parasol with an ever so modern geode cake. Each detail came together perfectly ❤
We wish Lauren & Dan all things nerdy and beautiful… Congratulations!

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographer | Kara Lerchenfeld

Bridesmaid Dresses | Azazie
Cake | The Artistic Whisk
Caterer | TradeWinds Island Grand Resort
Ceremony Site | TradeWinds Island Grand Resort
DJ | Expert Productions
Event Planner | Driftwood Weddings and Events | Cherish & Tori
Florist | Etsy
Hair Stylist | Michele Renee the Studio
Invitations | Basic Invite
Make-up Artist | Michele Renee the Studio
Reception Venue | TradeWinds Island Grand Resort
Videographer | Hearts Video
Wedding Gown | Unbridaled

Chelsea + Pete Step Into The Limelight | The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club | St. Petersburg, FL

Chelsea and Pete met 6 years to the day of their wedding day. Chelsea was going to visit her sister in Connecticut for new years (Cassidy), and Pete was going to visit his best friend (Chelsea’s sister’s now husband, Thomas). They hit it off right away, did long distance dating for 3 years, then moved to Orlando to be together.

Pete proposed at a family cottage on Lake Michigan that they go to every year. He took Chelsea to lunch one afternoon, and on our their way back, Pete insisted they’d walk out to the lighthouse. That’s where he had a photographer waiting as he proposed out on the pier. After taking engagement photos, they went back to the cottage where Pete surprised Chelsea with both of their families, best friends from college, and his best friends waiting to celebrate. It was the best day for the two!

Chelsea and Pete had a beautiful wedding day at The Vinoy Renaissance in St Pete. The two love to vacation in St. Pete, and wanted to have their wedding somewhere where their friends and families could enjoy right after the holidays. The tea garden at the Vinoy was perfect, so much that it inspired Chelsea’s stunning wedding gown with all the flowers. Pete's favorite color is blue, which is why they went with navy for the bridesmaid’s dresses and Pete's suit.

Their ceremony took place on the Tea Garden at the Vinoy which was gorgeously decorated with foliage on the white chairs that seated their guests. They said their I-Do’s and went off to their reception dinner which took place at The Vinoy’s Sunset Ball. Floating candles, floral placement cards, lanterns and green foliage topped the guest’s dinner tables - it was simply spectacular!

Congratulations the the new Mr. and Mrs!!!

Lead Photographer | Carlos Rello 
Associate Photographer | Kara Lerchenfeld

Band | Ultimate Sound Band 
Bridesmaid Dresses | Show Me Your Mumu
Cake | Publix
Caterer | The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
Ceremony Site | The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
Event Planner | The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
Florist | 2Birds Events 
Bride Hair Stylist | Avery Wells
Bridesmaids Hair Stylist | Alexandria Nicas
Invitations | Shutterfly
Make-up Artist | Lee Murray 
Reception Venue | The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
Videographer | Cechman’s Photo and Video
Wedding Gown | Calvet Couture Bridal