Lizzy + Tanner Step Into The Limelight | Henderson Boulevard Church of Christ + Hilton Tampa Downtown | Tampa, FL

August 12, 2020

Elegant, timeless, and romantic…

Lizzy + Tanner’s wedding day was filled with happiness and love as they celebrated with their closest family and friends. Church of Christ was selected as the ceremony site, because it is the church that they will one day raise their family in.The ambiance was beautiful and elegant, yet laid back and fun which perfectly reflects Lizzy and Tanner as a couple.Two very special details include the peacock feather in Lizzy’s bouquet to represent her grandfather and her grandmother's wedding band.

This adorable couple originally met in 2016 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleading auditions. Tanner was the trainer for the team and Lizzy was auditioning. Tanner trained the team that summer, but then moved back home to NC. They kept up on social media and one day he saw a picture of Lizzy that her friend had posted and he slid in her DMs. They started talking, he started visiting, and 9 months later he moved back to Tampa! Together they enjoy being couch potatoes, working out, spending time with family, cooking/eating, and going to sporting events (mostly baseball). The proposal story is AMAZINGLY sweet....get your box of tissues ready and click here to see for yourself! Click here!

In their own words.... “I love that he is a man of God, that he loves me more than anything, that he's handsome, kind, caring, funny, and a family man.” ~ Lizzy

“I love how genuine Lizzy is, how sweet, loving, caring, and honest she is. She always knows what to say to cheer me up, always knows how to handle any adversity we face, and one of the most selfless people I have ever met. She is such a hard working person, and she amazes me with how she handles everything on her plate with such ease.But most importantly,I love how much she loves me.As hard it is for me to believe that she could see anything worth loving in me, she loves me unconditionally.”~Tanner

Lead Photographer | Rebecca Zoumberos
Associate Photographer | Michael Zoumberos

Priya + Austin Step Into The Limelight | Rooftop 220 | Marriott Tampa Water Street | Tampa, FL

February 28, 2020

The wonderful thing about Priya & Austin is that they grew up together. They have known each other since middle school! How absolutely unique is that? They share the love for the Florida Gatos together as well as trashy reality shows! Let me tell you… they are both hilarious, they made us all laugh all day long.

Priya & Austin reside in Colorado and they wanted to come back to Tampa where they grew up to celebrate.
They chose to do a Traditional Indian Hindu wedding ceremony at Tampa Water Street surrounded by family and close friends from all over the country. Some family members even traveled all the way from India to join in the festivities.
We absolutely enjoyed being a part of Priya & Austin’s story, from the welcome party (where we experienced out first Henna designs as photographers) to the non-stop dancing during their reception… the music, the food, the people it was all so very vibrant and alive with bliss. Such a beautiful and bright culture!

Thank you Priya & Austin for having us! We wish you both ALL the best in life! badhaee ho

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographer | Kara Lerchenfeld + Audrey Clifford

Breanna + Joey Step Into The Limelight | Palmetto Riverside Bed and Breakfast | Palmetto, FL

February 19, 2020

Breanna & Joey met on October 6th, 2017 on a first date after a couple weeks of chatting on Bumble in St. Pete (Stillwaters Tavern and The Canopy). But the story begins weeks before the first date in preparation for Hurricane Irma. Joey's condo was located in what suddenly became a mandatory evacuation zone. He was just going to stay anyway, but his family talked him into evacuated to his parent's house in Lakewood Ranch (15 minutes from where Breanna lived in Ellenton). Once he arrived he was bored and started swiping through bumble, which he had set to only a 20 mile search radius. Over the next few weeks Joey and Breanna were chatting and eventually had their first date. Without Hurricane Irma, they never would have met each other.
They were staying at the Rod and Reel resort on Anna Maria Island and Joey packed a bottle of wine in his backpack and said they should walk to Bean Point to watch the sunset. Once they got near the beach, he pulled Breanna aside near the sand dunes and started nervously telling her sweet things about their future together, then he reached into his back pack and Breanna thought he was getting more wine, but he pulled out a jewelry box and got down on one knee and asked her to marry him! It was perfect - Breanna had always dreamt of a sunset beach proposal.

Here’s what Joey had to say about his Breanna…

I love how caring Breanna is towards her friends and family. She always goes above and beyond to plan a birthday party or bake a home-made cake for her families special occasions, and she always works hard around our condo to make it a wonderful home. She is unflinchingly loyal in the same old fashion way I believe I am. She is so beautiful that I feel lucky everyday when I see her. She laughs at my jokes and she makes me laugh too.

Here’s what Breanna had to say about her Joey…

Joey is everything I've ever wanted in a husband. He's loving, caring, and always has my best interests at heart. My cousin passed away a few months before I met Joey. Throughout our relationship there have been times when I've come home upset and he would be all dressed and ready to go to the gym, but would just stay in bed with me for hours holding me. He's also very family-oriented which is very important to me. Whenever we first started dating, we were at a bar and one of his friends, who I had just met, told me 'Joey is the most genuine guy in downtown Tampa!' Haha, I didn't know at the time just how true that was. Before I met Joey, home was always a place. Now I feel at home no matter where I'm at, as long as he's there.

I mean… people! That’s some real LOVE right there!

For their wedding day, they wanted to make sure to incorporate Italia!
They went to Italy together in 2018 and had the time of their lives, plus Joey is 100% Italiano!
Italian food is their favorite so “pasta all around folks”… as well as their Italian-esque favors Jordan Almonds that represents represent the bittersweet life of a married couple. The sugar coating is added to the bitter almonds in the hope that the newlyweds will have more sweet times than bitter during their lifetime together.

We truly LOVEd being a part of Breanna & Joey’s love story! You two made our hearts so happy and seeing you both’s love for each other is inspiring. We wish you both ALL the best! Viva la Vida!

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographers | Kara Lerchenfeld + Audrey Clifford

Meredith + Brantley Step Into The Limelight | The Birchwood | St. Petersburg, FL

February 14, 2020

a little something about our Meredith & Brantley…

How did he propose: (From Meredith's POV:) We were celebrating our third anniversary. As fans of wine and big band music, we decided to spend our anniversary at a Great Gatsby-themed NY Eve party at a vineyard/hotel outside of Atlanta, where we were living at the time (Chateau Elan). We went with another couple, who apparently was in on an even bigger surprise. Brantley had planned a proposal with the hotel staff - with roses and rose petals covering the hotel room, I walked into our room to see a bottle of champagne and two champagne glasses. When Brantley asked me to look at the champagne bottle, I noticed that there was a question printed on the bottle: "Will You Marry Me?". Completely surprised, I turned around to see Brantley on his knee holding a ring!!

What do you love about each other: Meredith: Brantley will put others before himself, always. He is selfless, empathetic, thoughtful, and aware. Brantley understands how important family and friends are to me, and constantly encourages us to go and visit the people that mean the most to us - one example of how he always puts others first :) He is funny, always finding ways to make me laugh even if I'm having a less-than-ideal day. He is kind and constantly challenges himself to be a better person - inspiring me to do and be better.
Brantley: Meredith makes me want to be the best version of myself. She is smart, passionate, and driven, and inspires everyone around her. She has pushed me (in a good way!) to want to lead a healthier life. She also introduced me to travel, and now one of our favorite things to do is to go explore new places either around Tampa Bay or outside of Florida.

These two were swooning the whole day… they just simply LOVE being together and that was felt around.
Their intimate ceremony at The Birchwood was perfectly filled with laughter and special moments are Meredith said their I do’s. They planned each aspect of their wedding day together, from selecting the music style to hand-selecting each flower {yes ladies, you read it correctly!}. Each detail shared their love story together and we are ALL here for it!

Meredith & Brantley… thank you so much for having us be a part of your LOVE STORY…
We wish you ALL the best in ALL you do..

xoxo

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographer | Kara Lerchenfeld
Intern | Carly Eggers

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