Kacie + Brian Step Into The Limelight | Tavares Pavilion on the Lake | Tavares, FL

February 1, 2019

Kacie and Brian met on a dating a website like a lot of couples now-a-days. Kacie was encouraged to try it because she had a crazy work schedule which included working overnights. One day, Kacie received a message from a man named Brian, who asked her about her love of theater. She was so impressed that this man actually took the time to read her profile to get to know her before reaching out to her. Meeting people online can be a little wary so after messaging for a couple of days they decided to meet at a local coffee shop in Jacksonville Beach called Bold Bean. They were supposed to meet for 30 minutes but everything felt so right that it turned into four hours!

Brian’s proposal to Kacie is kind of a funny story…they were in the midst of moving out of the Jacksonville area and Brian had been telling Kacie for several days that he wanted to go to the beach and take some pictures one last time before they leave. This didn’t sound odd to Kacie because Brian really enjoys photography. So, the last day of the move had arrived and it was time to go to the beach…unfortunately it was a really windy and rainy day. Brian got out of the car and was ready to go to the beach but looked back and saw Kacie still hiding inside. He’s like “come to the beach with me” and she just really didn’t want to go. Eventually he convinced her to go onto the beach with him but it wasn’t without troubles….like Kacie’s umbrella catching the high wind gusts and turning inside out on her (Haha). At the beach access point, the place of their first kiss, Brian took a few pictures of the water. He then hugged the pretty grumpy Kacie and began to tell her how much he loved her. Brian told her how he was so excited they'd finally be together and how he couldn't wait to spend the rest of their lives together. Kacie, was completely oblivious since he had written something similar in her Christmas card. Kacie then tried to get Brian to go back to the car. That's when Brian kissed Kacie and asked her if she would do him a favor.... "Will you marry me?” The ugly tears started, but Kacie of course said YES!

Kacie and Brian value the mutual respect they have for each other and strive to help the one another evolve into their best self. They love taking hikes together, watching the very witty television series Gilmore Girls, photography, and of course coffee. To honor their first date at Bold Bean it inspired Kacie and Brian to incorporate coffee into their wedding by having tea cup centerpieces filled to the brim with coffee beans. The personal detail of the tea cups came from the brides love of Disney and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Not wanting their wedding to have obvious Beauty and the Beast decor, they incorporated subtle hints throughout their wedding…like the beautiful staircase at Tavares, rose petals, and Kacie’s wedding dress. When Kacie tried her dress on for the first time she felt like she was Bell and when I saw her dancing with Brian during their first dance she looked like her too!

In Kacie and Brian’s own words…”Their love is a song that doesn’t end.”

Congratulations!

Lead Photographer | Stephanie Duffany
Associate Photographer | Alexa Rodriguez

Laura + Austin Step Into The Limelight | Downtown St. Petersburg, FL

January 28, 2019

Laura and Austin found out that each other existed July 29th 2017 when they matched on Tinder. Austin sent the first message to Laura. They didn’t meet in person until August 18th 2017 at Doc B’s at International Mall after Laura had previously canceled the first date attempt.

Austin proposed down by Tampa Bay with their brand new puppy Mason (who they had just brought home <24 hours prior). He said he wanted to play with Mason down by the Bay and when they got down there, he found a bench for them to sit on. As they were sitting there, he said that he bought a new collar for Mason. He explained the collar was too big for her now, but that she would grow into and hopefully last forever. But that wasn’t the only thing he wanted to last forever that day! That’s when he got down on one knee and asked Laura to marry him. He also had a “Will you marry me?” message printed on the new collar’s tag. Laura was so distracted with letting the puppy down that she went running to get Mason before he could get the ring on her finger. Two of their friends were there hiding to take pictures.

Laura and Austin complete each other perfectly. They are very similar in their interests/greatest pleasures/beliefs (God, family first, football, exercising, eating, wine, traveling) and also very different. Austin is much more relaxed but also very particular. Laura is a planner and more high strung. Austin prefers cold weather and Laura would take the beach any day. Laura loves the way that Austin always knows the perfect moments to kiss/hug/tell her he loves her. Laura can easily tell when he is extremely passionate about anything and he always gives 100%.

Laura and Austin are just incredibly lovely people and make such a beautiful and sweet couple. What a perfect evening we had capturing their love on a gorgeous evening in downtown St Pete!

Lead Photographers | Michael + Rebecca Zoumberos

Danielle + Chad Step Into the Limelight | Harborside Chapel + Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club | St. Petersburg, FL

January 24, 2019

Danielle and Chad met at a mutual friends birthday party before the start of her senior year at the University of Central Florida. After their friends party Chad left and went back to Panama City Beach to finish out his summer break. They stayed close by chatting over the phone and the very next month Chad came back for Danielle’s birthday. That’s when they decided to make it “official.” Danielle and Chad like to joke around with one another, go to the movies, and try new restaurants, but their most favorite thing to do is to just be with one another. No matter what they are doing OR not doing.

The proposal came when Danielle, Chad, and select family members were on vacation in New Orleans. When deciding what to do while they were there, Chad announced that everyone should go to happy hour in the french quarter. On their way, Chad saw a horse and carriage and decided he wanted Danielle and himself to take a picture with it. While Danielle was getting situated by the carriage she turned back around to see Chad on bent knee, THEN, he proceeded to ask her to marry him in French! Proposing in front of the carriage didn’t come unplanned though, turns out Chad had pre-arraigned for the horse and carriage to take his soon-to-be finance on a romantic ride through the french quarter. How romantic!

Danielle and Chad’s ceremony took place at the beautiful Harborside Chapel. It was very special to them to get married here because it is where Chad’s family worships. After the ceremony, all of their guests poured outside of the church and lined the walkway to cheer for the newlywed couple as they made their exit!

The festivities continued throughout the night at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club, where they watched the sun set and danced the night away with their friends and family.

Congratulations Danielle + Chad, and go UCF Knights!

Lead Photographer | Stephanie Duffany
Associate Photographer | Audrey Clifford

Tampa Bay Women in Tourism | ZooTampa at Lowry Park | Tampa, FL

January 21, 2019

Limelight Photography had the opportunity to be a part of Tampa Bay Women in Tourism’s luncheon at ZooTampa at Lowry Park.
We heard from Kristy Tozer, Chief Marketing Officer, and Dr. Larry Killmar, Chief Zoological Officer.
The speakers informed us about the amazing volunteer work done at the Zoo. The main focus is rescuing animals like manatees and wild cats, rehabilitating these animals and releasing them to thrive in their natural habitat. There is so much to learn and do to help our wild life! You can also become a volunteer, click here for more details.
We even participated on a tour of ZooTampa, which we LOVED! Such a fun and unique way to network and learn from our local Zoo.
Thank you for having us Tampa Bay Women in Tourism.

Photographer | Kara Lerchenfeld

LeeAnna + Ryan Step Into The Limelight | St. Petersburg Yacht Club | St. Petersburg, FL

January 16, 2019

Ryan and LeeAnna’s Love Story:

It all began in 2007. Ryan worked as a manager at the local Block Buster in Northeast Shopping Center. LeeAnna would drive over and rent movies and would call Ryan “Best Friend.” Ryan likes to refer to LeeAnna as a “stalker”.

In an unrelated circumstance, Ryan transferred stores with his new job being in south side St. Pete near Eckerd College…and at the same time LeeAnna left to start college in North Carolina. Years later in 2010, when LeeAnna’s brother Bob was a Residence Assistant at Eckerd College, he befriended an employee at Block Buster. His Block Buster friend asked if his Block Buster Manager, Ryan, could hang out with them. They took to each other quickly and Bob and Ryan became fast friends so much so that Bob decided to invite Ryan over for a feast at his family’s house.

As dinner progressed, polite conversation ensued. When Bob and LeeAnna’s parents asked what Ryan did for a living, he said “Manager at Block Buster.” Jaw drop…look of surprise…”Are you THE Ryan?!?”

“Yes?” at this point Ryan isn’t quite sure what he might be guilty of. Amongst the shock they had to explain to him that Bob’s younger sister, LeeAnna is the one who used to call him “Best Friend.” LeeAnna, too, was away at Campbell University, so it was just a “small world” encounter.

LeeAnna came home for Spring Break in 2011 and was visiting Bob at Eckerd when she became reacquainted with Ryan. As young adults, they seemed to hit it off and began a relationship.

Full stop…screech…LeeAnna was only home a week!

So LeeAnna being LeeAnna, said, “I love you?” off handed as a response to accidentally elbowing Ryan.

After a family dinner outing, while sitting in LeeAnna’s parent’s family room, LeeAnna went into her bedroom on the other side of the wall from where Ryan was sitting on the couch and sent him a text message…breaking up with him only to return moments later and sit back on the couch right next to Ryan like nothing had happened... awkward! Basically, I am going back to college, so peace out.

The good thing is Bob and Ryan remained very good friends and their relationship blossomed and grew.

In May of 2012, Bob and LeeAnna were graduating from college and needed a roommate for their newly built home. Well, Ryan was the perfect choice. Everyone got along great and the awkwardness quickly dissipated. Bob and Ryan were on one side of the house and LeeAnna had the master bedroom all to herself! They all became so close that at one point LeeAnna would introduce Ryan as her other brother.

They began acting like siblings (or a couple), arguing, appreciating each other, helping each other, disagreeing, fighting, hurting each other’s feelings, and relying on each other.

Oh and in the meantime, dating other people, a lot of other people, pushing back on others when they suggested they should date. They were going to hockey games together, playing board games together, Ryan joining on family vacations, and even being there on Christmas mornings, Ryan was always watching out for LeeAnna and making sure she was safe if she drank two, er, too much.

It was noticeable to everyone except them that they had become each other’s significant other. Even family that wasn’t around all the time would notice the obvious. Family members and neighbors would suggest to LeeAnna to date Ryan but her response was always the same, “Ryan is the perfect guy, like really perfect, just not for me.”

In the late summer of 2015, LeeAnna moved out of the house and into her Papa’s house alone and the boy’s had their house to themselves. LeeAnna started to realize how prevalent Ryan was in her life as they still continued to do things together, but now they weren’t together all of the time under the same roof. LeeAnna and Ryan began looking at each other a bit differently, but still, oblivious to what was right in front of them.

All the while, their affection was growing, undenounced to them…STILL. (hockey games, helping pack up MeMaw, movies, Disney trips, wrapping Christmas presents, teasing each other, cleaning together, coming to each other’s rescue).

Just after ringing in the New Year of 2016, LeeAnna and Ryan felt it was time to discuss the “elephant in the room”…24 hours later, Ryan said, “Are we doing this?” to which LeeAnna responded, “Yes?” and that began their Happily Ever After!

Knowing how much LeeAnna loves Jelly Rolls at Disney’s Boardwalk, he set the stage for a New Year’s Eve Proposal on December 31st, 2017. He pulled it off and she was so surprised!

On LeeAnna + Ryan’s wedding day you could see the excitement in everyones faces as they got to celebrate their union, just as everyone noticed all along…LeeAnna + Ryan were made for one another!

Congratulations LeeAnna + Ryan, I am excited to see what the future has in store for you!

Lead Photographer | Stephanie Duffany
Associate Photographer | Audrey Clifford

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