Molly + Austin Step Into The Limelight | The Ringling | Sarasota, FL

January 21, 2020

These two! I just absolutely loved meeting them for their engagement session at The Ringling… they are planning their wedding all the way from Boston MA and are just enjoying each moment of it all!
They were visiting family for the holidays and decided to do their engagement while in town.
Two words for these two… calm and collected! They are so aware of their love for each other that they are just Molly & Austin together, they both are so comfortable and nothing is overdone. It’s simply and purely perfect… They will be getting married at Longboat Key Club in April of 2021 and I truly cannot wait to witness Molly walking towards Austin down the aisle… it’s going to be a memorable one!

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer

Location | The Ringling

Karen + Daniel Step Into The Limelight | Kapok Special Events | Clearwater, FL

January 8, 2020

✨𝓒𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓼 𝓜𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬 ✨

You know that warm and fuzzy feeling you get during the holidays? You know the colors and smells you cannot live without during this time of year? The happiness and joy everyone around you cannot contain?
That was Karen & Daniel’s wedding day… their Christmas themed wedding was evident all around, from the handmade ornaments, to the twinkling lights, greens, yellow and reds. Karen even placed Christmas scented wall plugs all around the reception room so her guest could smell the season’s goodness. Even Santa made an arrival!
But more important than that… Karen & Daniel were surrounded by 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮…
They said their vows at the magical Kapok and they danced the night away in the main ballroom which reminded them of Disney’s “Beauty & the Best”. (They are both crazy about Disney movies).
Their dreams came true and they now can enjoy their happy ever after.
Enjoy your adventures in the great wide somewhere…

Jennifer + Eduardo Step Into The Limelight | Marco Beach Ocean Resort | Marco Island, FL

December 31, 2019

Jennifer & Eduardo are gorgeous together! We loved being a part of their love story at Marco Beach Ocean Resort… Their special day included “all their favorites things”…dinner dates, traveling and going to the beach . They said their I Do’s surrounded by their families and close friends and they made sure to enjoy each moment with their loved ones. This classic and elegant wedding was simply stunning, we love the whites with touches of blush and gold and the rustic greenery is always the best finishing touch… We wish Jennifer & Eduardo all the sweet things in life. Enjoy it ALL!

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographer | Alexa Rodriguez

Adriana + Matthew Step Into The Limelight | Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club | Tampa, FL

December 12, 2019

What an amazing journey it has been with this lovely couple. We had the privilege to meet Adrianna and Matt earlier this year to do their engagement session in Lakeland. From the moment I met them, I knew right away just how fun and easy going they were. During our session, I felt a nice connection and the love between them was strong and so visible, it was a delight to capture. Time went by, and we met up with just Adrianna to photograph her in her bridal gown during a bridal session where we focused just on her portraits. She looked STUNNING and was so excited for the big day - we all were!

The wedding day was finally here! Adrianna got ready one last time at her parents home which was very near and dear to her. Once ready, Adrianna got into a a Rolls Royce and made her way to meet Matt at The Academy of the Holy Names which was Adrianna’s high school. There, they said their I-Do’s and were pronounced husband and wife.

The Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club opened up their doors to receive the newly weds and their family and friends. The reception ballroom was fully decorated with tall and low tables, floral arrangements made out of a verity of flowers, greenery and even grapes and a cake that was styled and made to match the linen on which it was placed on. It was truly such a great day full of funny and happy moments between the two and it was such an honor to be able to join them on such a marvelous day. Congratulations to Adrianna and Matt!!!

Senior Lead Photographer | Carlos Rello
Associate Photographer | Alexa Rodriguez

Suzanne + Alex Step Into The Limelight | The Rusty Pelican | Tampa, FL

December 12, 2019

Suzanne & Alex’ Love Story

How They Met…

From Alex: May 18, 2013 is where this love story began. As I walked in nervously into what was my first day working as a Summer Camp Counselor at Hunter's Green Country Club in Tampa, all I was worried about was trying not to sweat through the only shirt they had given me to wear for the summer (do not be alarmed - soon after, I received a 2nd shirt). After walking through the front door, any shot I had at my nerves disappearing (and the sweating stopping) was gone, as I laid eyes on the most beautiful girl I had even seen. From that moment, I knew this girl was going to be someone special in my life - and when I saw her in her (mandated) one-piece bathing suit during swimming time, I knew she was the one for me. 

The Proposal…

From Alex: Soon after we officially began dating (not until summer of 2016), I knew how I was going to do it. If and when we got to that point, I was going to take her back to summer camp at Hunter's Green. Thanks to a lot of planning (with the help of my mother, Matt Hilts, and plenty of friends along the way), I was able to convince her to visit our old stomping grounds with me, to check out the renovations. As we walked towards our old camp gathering area in the back of the club, I remembered an old conversation we had about six months earlier.

SC - "You nervous?"
AW - "I don't get nervous"
SC - "What about if you ever ask me to marry you, will you be nervous then?"
AW - "No"
SC - "I'll make sure to ask you in the moment"
AW - "I'll hold you to it"

As we stopped in front of the building, I turned and looked into her eyes, she seemed confused on what was going on. I knew at that point, I had pulled it off.

AW - "Aren't you going to ask me?"
SC - "Ask you what"
AW - "If I'm nervous"

It took a couple seconds for it to click with her, but before it did, I started to go into a rehearsed speech I had prepared 1,000 times leading up to this moment. When she finally sensed what was going on, and I saw the tears starting to form, and her face lighting up - I lost it. I no longer remembered what I was going to say. I'm not entirely sure what came out the rest of the way, but all I know is it ended with pulling out a small box from my back pocket (thanks, Jake Ninko, for the wallet-looking box - highly recommended) and I was on a knee, ready to give the love of my life the only secret I've ever had to keep from her (other than birthday presents). Obviously, you know what happens next.

Ready Or Not Here They Come!

From Alex: Life is hard. That's an understatement. Life is full of ups and downs. Isn't that the truth! I always loved the song, "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette - "It's like 10,000 spoons, when all you need is a knife", definitely my favorite line in the song. Life is most certainly - ironic.

How ironic it is, that in what I consider the greatest time of my life (my journey with Suzanne), we would also each go through our most difficult moments. Life hasn't been particularly kind to us in the past couple of years, but that's how I know we were meant for each other - I knew we were made for each other. I will never be able to put into words just how much support Suzanne has shown to be throughout my pain. She's been a shoulder to cry on, the Wall (pun intended) to lean on, and my best friend to vent to. She assures me that everything is going to be alright - and I believe her. This is why I pledged to her parents (and the rest of her family) that I'll work every single day to make sure I am everything to her, that she has been to me. I know that no matter what comes our way, as long as we both support each other, we can take on the world.

Fast forward through all the tough times, we think it's time for a celebration. Through a recent move, new jobs, and all the joy of planning a wedding, I think it's time to throw a big party to show just how far we have come.

From Suzanne & Alex’ wedding blog | https://www.zola.com/wedding/suzanneandalexander   

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographer | Kara Lerchenfeld
Intern | Tara Zimmerman