Samantha and Kyle\u2019s wedding day was one of those when you look back, you realize how much luck plays into a wedding day- esp for a photographer. It started off so ominous, I thought for sure it would rain all day- and with an outside ceremony, it was not a good plan. But then, as we started family formals, the sun came out so bright, it was perfect. By the time we hit the reception, the big clouds had moved back in, and it didn\u2019t just rain, it poured\u2026but lucky for us, it was after we finished outside!<\/p>\n

Kyle and Samantha, in true Gator Graduate fashion, had a fabulously good time from beginning to end! As Samantha said, you cant change the weather, so you have to roll with it, and enjoy it all as it unfolds, and honestly, thats just what these two did. Now I just have to convince them to let me go with them to Australia\u2026<\/p>\n

Kyle and Samantha, if your wedding day is any indication, you two are in for a fabulous ride together! I hope that you two have the most amazing of lives together! Thank you for allowing us to be part of your love story!<\/p>\n

Their Fabulous Team of Vendors<\/p>\n

Ceremony \u2013 The Lightner Museum<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Reception \u2013 The Serenata Beach Club\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Flowers \u2013 A Fantasy in Flowers<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Caterer \u2013 Serenata beach Club<\/a><\/p>\n

Cake \u2013 Sweet Weddings<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0 Coordination \u2013 The Wedding Authority<\/a> & Serenata Beach Club<\/a><\/p>\n

Dress \u2013\u00a0Brides by Demetrios<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0 Bridesmaids Dresses \u2013 Bill Levkof<\/a><\/p>\n

Groomswear \u2013 Mens Wearhouse<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0 Hair & Makeup \u2013\u00a0Mane de Leon Salon<\/a><\/p>\n

Reception Entertainment \u2013\u00a0i-Photobooth of Jacksonville<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0 Officiant \u2013\u00a0Bill Young<\/p>\n

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How did you two meet?<\/strong> Kyle and I met when we were freshmen at the University of Florida in 2006<\/p>\n

How did he pop the question?<\/strong>
\nKyle proposed on the beach at sunset, while we were on vacation in Maui, Hawaii.<\/p>\n

How did you choose your theme? Flowers? and overall wedding design?<\/strong>
\nWe both love to travel!\u00a0 So it only seemed right to make it the theme for our big day.\u00a0 We incorporated the theme through our postcard save the dates, named the dinner tables after vacation destinations we have been together, and had luggage tag place cards.<\/p>\n

What was the best moment{s} of your wedding day?<\/strong>
\nThe best moment of the big day was our first look.\u00a0 I loved that we did it and were able to go off and take pictures together before the ceremony.\u00a0 I think it helped both of us relax a bit before everything got started!\u00a0 It also gave us much more time to visit with family and friends at the cocktail hour and reception.<\/p>\n

How would you describe your overall wedding experience?<\/strong>
\nThe day couldn\u2019t have been any more perfect!\u00a0 We had the best time getting to visit with all of our family and friends who traveled from all over the US and world (Samantha\u2019s cousin came from Germany!) to help us celebrate the big day.\u00a0 The sunshine didn\u2019t hurt either \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

What photography related advice would you offer to a couple??<\/strong>Do your research!\u00a0 We spent a ton of time looking at all the photographers in the area.\u00a0 We looked at their websites and asked each of them to send us photos they had taken at our ceremony and reception locations in the past.\u00a0 It is one thing to like a photographer\u2019s photos that are on the front page of their website, but it\u2019s another to like the photos from your wedding sites.\u00a0 Luckily, we LOVED all of Kelly\u2019s photos!<\/p>\n

How was your experience taking photos\/working with me on your wedding day?<\/strong>
\nHiring Kelly was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding!\u00a0 She was there having fun with all of us, but also took stunning pictures.\u00a0 The \u201csneak peek\u201d pictures we have received are better than we could have ever imagined.\u00a0 We also loved that she brought a laptop and ipad to show pictures she had taking throughout the day at the reception.\u00a0 It was so unique!
\n??Did you see each other before the wedding? If not, did you like waiting or would you have rather done it differently?<\/strong> Tell me why or why not!
\nWe did a first look and it was perfect!\u00a0 I know it seems more \u201cstory book\u201d to wait until you are walking down the aisle to see each other, but the practical part of me wanted to do the first look.\u00a0 Seeing each other before hand really helped us relax a bit and take it all in together.\u00a0 Also, it will give you more time to spend at your cocktail hour and reception vising with family and friends.<\/p>\n

Any tips on how to prepare for the wedding photos?<\/strong> ?If you have little kids in the wedding, bring candy!\u00a0 There were bags of MnMs and Skittles waving behind Kelly while she was shooting to entice our nieces and nephew to smile for all the photos!\u00a0 We also got them sunglasses, which they loved!
\nWe love to hear about vendors you love. List any vendors here and feel free to share your experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our favorite vendors aside from Kelly:
\nThe Serenata Beach Club<\/strong>:\u00a0 Cordell and Matt are second to none!\u00a0 The setup was just what we asked for and the service during the reception was excellent.\u00a0 They thought of every detail during the day and even sent us back to our hotel with to go boxes of all of the appetizers!
\nArlene at Sweet Weddings<\/strong>:\u00a0 Arlene\u2019s cake designs are beautiful and she is just as sweet as her cakes!
\nI-Photobooth<\/strong>:\u00a0 We were going back and forth up until a couple weeks before the wedding as to whether to have a photobooth or not.\u00a0 We are so glad we did!\u00a0 Everyone seemed to really have fun with it and we loved getting to see all the pictures online the next day!<\/p>\n

Did you find a store\/site that had everything you were looking for? Use this space to talk about favorite shops.<\/strong>
\nLike all brides, I loved looking on Pinterest for wedding ideas.\u00a0 I also got a lot of the \u201clittle extras\u201d off of Etsy and Zazzle! ??Any tips on what to bring??Splurge on the expensive shoes, it\u2019s worth it, but bring a pair of flats or flip flops for dancing!\u00a0 ??What do you want to always remember from your wedding day?
\nI will always remember the look on Kyle\u2019s face when he first saw me in my wedding dress!<\/p>\n

??\u201dIF I only I knew!\u201d<\/strong> what is one piece of advise you would give to brides planning their wedding day?
\nWeather reporters are wrong all the time!!!\u00a0 Have a backup plan if it rains, but don\u2019t dwell on it the day of.\u00a0 If it rains, it rains, but even the day of reports can be wrong!\u00a0 Just think good thoughts and buy matching umbrellas, just in case (Thanks, Mom!)<\/p>\n

??What was the first song you danced to as husband and wife? Father-daughter dance? Mother-son dance?<\/strong>
\n1st dance: Jason Mraz \u2013 \u201cI\u2019m Yours\u201d
\nFather\/Daughter: Michael Buble \u2013 \u201cThe way you look tonight\u201d
\nMother\/Son: \u201cOver the Rainbow\u201d??And where are you going on your honeymoon?
\nWe are going down under to Australia for our honeymoon!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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