Oooo! i just LOVED this wedding.  all the little hand-done touches made it such a personal and incredible wedding.  After being at their wedding, i really feel like i truly know abby and adam as people not just bride and groom.  The day started not quite as planned, with thick black rolling clouds coming in from the Gulf.  I texted Abby as i was on my way  not to worry about the clouds…’overcast skies are great for pictures!’  but when the torrential downpours began i was lucky to even get my equipment out of the car and into the hotel.

torrential downpours= not good for outdoor weddings OR photography.

you wouldn’t have known it though from Abby’s attitude.  She was absolutely go-with-the-flow & easy going.  i LOVE brides like this!

This ring shot was photographed on Abby’s grandmother’s handkerchief that she carried with her down the aisle.  the yellow crochet on the edges is actually called ‘tatting’ which is a lost artform in this day.

Both Abby and Adam have lost a parent, and they honored their presence by carrying a single white rose down the aisle and placing it on an empty chair to symbolize their presence. so incredibly beautiful.

Adam has just graduated from Med School!  definitely a cause to celebrate!

Adorable lounge areas were set up around the venue to create a home-like comfort for guests to mingle and drink. i am in love with this bare-bulb chandalier!

and of course, i’m loving the Toms that the groom wore! apparently they are his signature choice of footwear

Abby and Adam’s wedding day centered around their Journey together both past and future.   Each table was a different location they had been to, complete with a map, and small treasures relating to that place.

Abby also honored her late mother by wrapping her bouquet in her mother’s veil and carrying this locket with her photograph inside.

favorite ever- Abby and one of her bridesmaids (and childhood best friend) sang an impressive rendition of "Part of your World" from the little mermaid. i can just see them as little girls dancing around the living room singing this song together. LOVE.

and the beautiful sparkler exit- this may be one of my favorite sparkler exit photographs ever

As I was just showing my husband some of the images he whispered “wow.  you can just see that they are going to be together forever, you can see it in the pictures. it’s like looking into the future.”  If he would have been there in person, he would have confirmed that.  You know there is a lot of love in the room when the entire wedding party stands up to give a speech and the entire place (myself included) is laughing so hard tears are rolling down my cheeks or tearing up. Thank you Abby and Adam for inviting me to capture your incredible day!

Venue:  Tampa Bay Watch

Florist: Amy Lewis

Music: Greg West on solo guitar

caterer: backstreet blues