A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to photograph at The Ivory Oak, a stunning venue in Austin Texas. The grounds of this new venue is so charming, with a mixture of rustic and modern, creating a beautiful backdrop for photos. Song, our model for the shoot from Evo Model Management, wore a couple of classic with contemporary twist wedding gowns by Kelly Faetanini, incredibly fitting for the day. Molly Makeup & Hair create two beautiful hair and makeup styles that went so perfectly with these gorgeous wedding dresses. It was for sure an incredible and inspiring day! I hope you enjoy the photos.

The Ivory Oak Weddings. View my portfolio

Now that I’m settling into my new life as a San Antonio wedding photographer, I’m so pleased to have time to share some highlights from last year. Elise and Thomas’ wedding is at the top of my list! I know you’ll understand why when you see their photos.
It’s hard to put into words how special it’s been to work with these two. Elise and Thomas are so in love, so in tune, so easygoing and so fun! Truly my kind of couple! Their Virginia Beach Engagement Session was an absolute delight, so I knew their wedding would be even more wonderful. And, of course, it was! Elise knows just what she wants. She is a sexy, confident, kind woman, and a joy to photograph. And Thomas matches her in all of these qualities. What a stunning couple!
I realized the moment I arrived at Elise’s parents’ house to get ready that it would be a joyous, laid-back wedding. I could tell that a big priority for everyone was to have a good time and really enjoy one another. Elise and Thomas clearly value their family and friends a lot, and it showed throughout the day. The wedding itself took place at the Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club in Virginia Beach, and the ceremony was very emotional. It was so beautiful to see tears in Thomas’ eyes when Elise walked down the aisle! As the celebration went on, the deep and true emotion of the ceremony was matched with equal parts of joy and excitement at the reception. What a fun bridal party!! This was the craziest dance floor I have ever had the pleasure to photograph!! What a privilege to witness such wild fun and such profound love!

I hope you enjoy these photos from Elise and Thomas’ amazing day. A huge thanks to Emily Weddings & Events Team, it was wonderful to work with you.

Watching Elise’s dad welcome guests with sincere gratitude and love was so special. There is no greater gift in life than having friends and family who are there for us — not just in the joyous moments, but in the difficult times as well. Elise and Thomas’ loved ones share a special closeness and have always been there for one another. So beautiful to see.

Coordinator: Emily Weddings / Videographer: J Pixx / Florist: Parties for Particular People / Stationary: Centric Communications / Cake Artist: Incredible Edibles / Venue and Catering: Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club / Ceremony music: And I love her violins / Reception music: Silver Bullets / Make-up: All Eyes on the Bride / Hair: The Hair Days / Wedding Dress: Mikaella / Shoes: Badgley Mischka/ Bridesmaids dress: Lulu’s / Groom and Groomsmen’s attire: Calvin Klein

Hello, and happy spring to everyone! I am so excited to post about the beginning of my 2018 wedding season with a gorgeous destination wedding in the Bahamas!! This was truly a magical weekend in a real island paradise! But as stunning as the surroundings were, the best part of this trip was working with Capel and Ross. Photographing these two as they became husband and wife with so many loving family and friends is already a highlight of my year!
Their destination wedding took place in Exuma, the Bahamas almost exactly four years after their first date. I have to tell you, the story of how Ross proposed to Capel is incredibly unique. A big-time runner, Ross was training for the NYC marathon last summer. On the morning of July 7th, he asked Capel to be ready for a date at 6pm…and then took himself on a 12-mile run!! But by 6, he was ready to go and they hopped in a cab. In Battery Park, Capel knew something was up when she spied a boat and a driver waiting for them. They were just navigating around the Brooklyn bridge when the driver stopped…and Ross got down on one knee! They spent the rest of the evening in a café on the Upper East Side, with live music and champagne and a celebration they’d never forget. So beautiful!
Fast forward to earlier this month, and I find myself behind the camera as Capel and Ross take another boat ride, this time on their wedding day! Even as I’d waited for my flight in Atlanta, I could tell it would be a wonderful weekend. A bunch of Capel and Ross’s excited guests were on my flight as well, and I later heard that some of the flights heading into George Town that day were pretty much completely filled with wedding guests! Nearly 200 people flew into the Bahamas to be with Capel and Ross on their day, a true testament to how much these two are loved! Capel is one of the sweetest brides I have ever photographed. By the toasts alone, I could tell that she is absolutely adored, she’s such a positive person, and made everyone feel special (including me!).
From the ceremony at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church with its pretty blue shutters and picturesque bell tower, to the exciting reception at Turquoise Cay, this was one unforgettable celebration! Capel looked gorgeous in her Reem Acra gown; it was perfect for the beach with an elegant lace bodice and flowy skirt that caught in the breeze. Her bridesmaids wore white as well, but their dresses were all different styles. I love this touch, because everyone gets to feel beautiful, but their looks are still unified by color. And the groom’s style was on point! These two have impeccable taste. A Bahamian brass band played at the reception, and as Capel and Ross danced and twirled in the midst of their friends and loved ones, I felt so, so grateful to be a part of their magical day!

I hope you enjoy these photos of their Bahamas destination wedding as much as I enjoyed taking them! A huge thanks to Marva with Chic Bahamas Weddings, you were a joy to work with and their wedding was perfect!

Have you ever seen water so blue?! I grew up going to beautiful beaches in Brazil, but the Caribbean Sea is the bluest I’ve ever seen. I was in awe the whole weekend!

Capel loves boats – so how perfect was it that both the proposal and the big day itself included a fabulous boat ride?

Planning and Design: Chic Bahamas Wedding / Florist: Crystal Blue / Stationary: Arzbergers / Catering: Blu / Reception music: Band: Tropic Breeze Band and DJ Schuller / Make-up: Paintbox Beauty / Hair: Jordan Inman, Broome Street Society / Wedding Dress and veil: Reem Acra