Kimberly & Bryan were married at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando on February 20, 2009.  The wedding was beautifully planned by Kimberly with the assistance of her well-organized mother, Linda…the details were stunning!  Lisa Litton-Bowen, with An Affair to Remember, was on hand to make sure all of those plans were carried out perfectly.  With the help of her crew, our day ran smoothly and we captured a beautiful event.

Kimberly was an elegant bride and her bouquet of calla lilies suited her perfectly.

This day was backward from how we usually do it…pre-ceremony, then bridal party formals, then family portraits, then bridal portraits - and last the ceremony and reception.  It got me ot of sorts at first, but it was really great and the day flowed easily.  We got all of our ‘work’ done first, then we just had the ceremony and the party!

Lee James‘ did an amazing job with the girls’ florals, the centerpieces, and the gazebo.  He was on hand to make sure every detail was taken care of…and it was!

So, after the sunset portraits by the lake we immediately get ready for the formal, evening ceremony.  As the sun slipped below the horizon the lights on the gazebo took on a glowing purple aura.

The reception in the grand ballroom was awash in color as Kimberly & Bryan entered to much fanfare.  Their first dance was emotional and tender as 250 of their closest family and friends looked on.  Did the Ritz do a fantistic job on this cake or what?!  This is my favorite cake shot ever…so dramatic.

Dan and Jose with White Rose Entertainment got the guests up on their feet to celebrate with Kimberly and Bryan.  Bryan’s mom and dad livened up the dance floor while Kimberly’s sorority sisters partied like rockstars.

Kudos to Kim & Bryan!  We wish you both the best that life has to offer…

Virginia and Craig wanted to shoot their engagement session in elegant surroundings.  Given that Virginia is French, I thought Portofino Bay’s European surroundings would make her feel right at home.  Little did I know that they are incredibly strict about security…good thing Craig was a master negotiator.

Luckily, we were able to squeeze in some really fun shots before we had to move on to Universal’s City Walk.  We got in a tad bit of trouble, but I’m a rebel and I think it was definitely worth it.  See for yourself…

So, if you have followed my children’s photography blog, then you’ll recognize this little cutie from a session in Winter Park when she was just 5 months old.  She’s about 8 months old now and she’ll be almost 9 by the time her parent’s wedding rolls around.  Since my son was 4 when my husband and I got married, I can appreciate how awe inspiring it is to have your children stand by your side as you pledge your life to someone who isn’t blood-related, but to whom you have freely chosen for a life partner.  Virginia, Craig, & Lindsay - you have a beautiful family…

We ended our evening at City Walk and, despite the crowds, got  more fun shots than we could have gotten at Portofino Bay (although I desperately want to go back and have some fun with those candy apple red Vespas!).  I’d say it was the perfect way to round out the session.  If you follow my work at all, you know that I LOVE color!  This merry go round is so fun…

Kevin and I can’t wait for the wedding in a few weeks!  It’s going to be fabulous…keep an eye out on the blog for an update.

Sara & Kyle had an elegant affair at St.  Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Church followed by a reception at Lake Mary Events Center.  Sara has a classic sense of style and she was a stunning bride!  Don’t you just love stained glass windows?!

Sara just glowed as she prepared to walk down the aisle.  I know she was nervous, but she just kept smiling…

This is one of my favorite ceremony shots ever…St. Mary Magdalen has beautiful lighting and decor.

The new Mr. & Mrs. Kessler!

The courtyard outside the church always has amazing afternoon light!  It’s just the perfect glow and warm even tones.  I always try to spend a little bit of time here before heading out to the next locale!

I just love Sara’s bouquet (by DSR Designs)!  For some reason, yellow is really hot right now!  It’s such a breath of fresh air in the middle of the winter.  Love it!

Off to the reception!

Lake Mary Events Center has a wall of windows with the most beautiful view of the lake and the sunset.  What a perfect backdrop to any romantic event!  Plus, it gives us great natural light before sundown.  Atmosphere’s helped to coordinate the day for Sara…if you haven’t met Ashlie Shea Hampton, you should!  She’s a great help to every bride!  And, her mother is a florist.  Her company, DSR Designs, was responsible for all of these great flowers and centerpieces!  The food was amazing…would you expect anything less from Arthur’s?!  And, check out this cake that It’s Tasty Too! designed - it’s beautiful, but it really is tasty too!

The guests had a great time dancing the night away to DJ Adam Vernier.  He kept it going right until the end when the guests had to be shooed out the door to wish Sara & Kyle a fond farewell.

Congratulations!  You two have amazing things in store…

Alright, so when I got home from Sara & Kyle’s wedding I recieved an email that an old friend from elementary, middle, and high school had found me on facebook.  Her name?  Sarah Kessler!  Too funny, huh?!  Feel free to send me a friend request on facebook anytime…I love to keep up with my friends on there.