One of the reasons that beach weddings are so popular here in Naples, Florida is of course, the scenery! Not only do we have the very best sunsets this side of the state, but we also the best and most fabulous wedding vendors in the area! Our only mission: to create the best most memorable day for brides and grooms!

I think we photographers have the best job though….we get to capture it all forever!

Congratulations Jane and David! What a beautiful family you both have…

~ The Details ~

Location: Naples, Florida
Venue: La Playa, Betsy Tucker
Wedding Coordinator: Stephanie Shaffer - Weddings Made Simple
Stylist: Roni Fields
Florist: Mark Fessenden with Gene’s 5the Avenue Florist
Cake: Ella’s Cakes
Gown: Vera Wang
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Entertainment: Kevin Smith - Florida Talent Consultants
Chocolatier: Norman Love’s Chocolates

Tags: Florida Weddings, Naples Florida weddings, gowns, cakes and shoes by Astrid
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We are so excited to have in our hands the Winter/Spring 2010 edition of Weddings Florida magazine!

This edition features Liz and Sean’s awesomely beautiful and fun wedding that we shot at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club here in Southwest Florida! What a great place to shoot! At every corner we found great spots and the decor is fabulous! Lesley and the staff at Miromar did an absolutely outstanding job making sure everything flowed smoothly and everyone was happy. And we couldn’t have been happier shooting at such a refreshingly unique spot!

I know that the wedding magazine industry experienced some losses last year with the loss of Modern Bride and Elegant Bride so we are SUPER ecstatic to see such a beautiful magazine going strong and representing some of the best vendors, locations and talent here in Florida. We are also very honored to be featured in Weddings Florida.

For us, it’s really wonderful to see this area of Southwest Florida receive the recognition it deserves as being a hot spot for destination weddings. Not only is the area beautiful, but we have some absolutely fantastic talent in the area that will do everything possible to help create a bride and groom’s vision. And part of that success comes from a strong network here of industry vendors that work with each other and support each other.

Thanks again to Weddings Florida for featuring Liz and Sean and thank you Liz and Sean for trusting in our ability to preserve your wedding day.

~ Astrid and Rene ~

 

If you’d like to learn more about Weddings Florida, check out their Facebook page and their website!

If you are in the Southwest Florida area and want to get to know some of the best vendors (including us) in the industry, make sure to attend the First Annual Clearwater Beach Bridal & Fashion Show produced by Weddings Florida Magazine, Sunday, January 24, 2010 at Clearwater Beach. Check out their website for more information and pre-registration.

 

Tags: Florida Weddings, Naples Florida weddings, accolades, published! by Astrid
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OMGosh, where do I begin? I knew the minute I talked to Amber that we were going to totally hit it off….not only is she absolutely beautiful on the outside, but she’s such an incredibly sweet person on the inside, with fantastic taste! I only wish I could have spent more time with both Amber and Brian after their wedding day……they have this down-to-earth, natural and real vibe that really pulls you in. Hey guys…..enjoy the wonderful cold weather in Kansas City! And if you ever want to warm up…..come down anytime and visit!

Amber and Brian had a beautifully intimate wedding here on Marco Island. The weather cooperated, the skies looked magical, love was in the air and the day felt like it had been taken right out of an old love story carefully written on a manuscript from long ago.

For some reason, Amber and Brian really struck me as having this beautifully old love going on between them……it reminded me of Rene and I. These are the feelings that can’t be expressed in words…..and are what I hope I can feel every time I meet a new couple and they give me the honor of sharing in their very special day. Congratulations to you both……

Beautiful. Timeless. Classic.

 

I absolutely love this image of Amber’s father walking her through the Marco Island Marriot Beach Resort right before the ceremony….

 

The beach in front of the Marriot goes on FOREVER……powder-soft sand, a mirror-like ocean and colors that couldn’t be made up even if you tried….

 

After the beach, we moved inside for some fun portraits…….again. Beautiful couple in love = beautiful images = simple to take!

 

Their reception was held at a private house on the island……the exquisite cake was made by Kakes by Karen….and yes. That’s a full moon behind their cake on that beautiful night…..

Tags: Florida Weddings, Marco Island Florida beach weddings, Naples Florida weddings by Astrid
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Talk about a natural beauty (Samantha!) and a natural love! Samantha and Erick tied the knot at the lovely Pink Shell in Fort Myers and well, as I’ve said before: you just can’t take a bad picture of two people in love.

Loving the negative space here….

 

Ok, so those of you who follow know by now that I am a shoe-fanatic. I LOVE to shoot them in all sorts of compromising positions! :O

 

 

The beautiful bride in one of her many bridal portraits we created that day…..

 

Love playing with color, shape and line!

 

I’ve been diving into more Photoshop tricks (trying to learn something new to teach my students) and have been really playing with eyes….and Samantha has these beautiful eyes that are thoughtful…..

 

And full of fire!

 

Erick, the handsome groom….

 

Another one of our favorite backdrops to play with down here in Southwest Florida are skies and clouds. What better to frame a beautiful moment like this?

 

 

Another couple bound by love!

 

Samantha and Erick had a very funny, friendly and happy crew to share their special day with!

 

Color, color, color!!

 

A dramatic moment deserves a dramatic backdrop….loved working with texture and color here….

 

….and look at the wonderful tenderness in this kiss. See! My job = super easy when you take pictures of happy couples in love!

 

Easily one my favorite shots of the day. I have a total die-for love of anything that feels Fall-ish and comes from a cooler state i.e. NOT from Florida! And this shot to me feels and looks like it was taken up north somewhere on a cool Fall day.

 

More love….the world surely needs it!

 

Ah….more having fun with skies and sea oats!

 

And another view I love….a beautiful gown, slimy and gloriously green rocks and happy Florida revelers in the background!

 

Color, color, color!! Shoes, shoes, shoes!! Fuzzy rocks, fuzzy rocks, fuzzy rocks. Such a cool juxtaposition of textures and color, no?

 

 

Dramatic skies for this picture perfect day!

 

 

No words needed!

 

I have to say that the clouds that day were really beautiful.

 

Textures, shapes, and color again….

 

See! Samantha is an absolute stunner!

 

A little Man Ray effect going on here!

 

Love it for Halloween!

 

Uhm, no words needed!

 

The beautiful Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa at night! KUDOS to Dony at the Pink Shell for ensuring Samantha and Erick’s day was 100% snag-free!

 

Tags: Florida Weddings, Naples Florida weddings by Astrid
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A giant congratulations goes out to John, Michelle and their families! What a beautiful and perfect day this was!

~ The Details ~

The Bride’s Accommodations: The Ritz Carlton, Naples, FL
Bride’s Hair and make up: Jan at the Ritz Carlton, Naples
Gown designer: Casablanca Bridal
Shoes: Liz Rene by Benjamin Walk
The Groom’s Accommodations: The Ritz Carlton Golf Resort, Naples FL
Reception: Grey Oaks Country Club
Music: DJ Randy Ray and Pianist Josh Isenburg, arranged by Talent Ventures
Cake: Kakes by Karen, LLC
Florist: Sweet P Florist
Caterer: Grey Oaks Country Club

Michelle started her day out at the fantastic Ritz Carlton here in Naples. What’s not to love about being pampered and getting ready at the Ritz? Even the gown gets the royal treatment here!

 

 

Michelle has impeccable taste. Simple, elegant and classic.

 

 

 

 

 

John began his day at the The Ritz Carlton Golf Resort (yeah, there’s two Ritz’s here!)

 

 

This was shot in the waiting room at the Church. I love the mood of this bridal portrait.

 

Michelle’s bouquet.

 

And Michelle’s bridesmaids’ bouquets…

 

Married! And at our favorite Naples beach! The sky was absolutely stunning that day.

 

 

 

We took some time to get some beautiful portraits of Michelle at the Grey Oaks Country Club.

 

Another one of my shadow shots!

 

One of my favorite shots of the day! On a super-cool golfcart! This shot is so Florida!

 

Beautiful!

 

 

The perfect setting created by Michelle’s vision, Sweet P Floral Designs and the staff at Grey Oaks.

 

 

The yummies! Nothing but the best from the chef’s at Grey Oaks and an absolutely exquisite cake from Karen at Kakes by Karen.

 

 

Another view of the beautiful cake!

 

OK! Can you tell I fell in love with the cake? I LOVE the black and white color combination and it was nothing short of perfect!

 

Dusk at the Grey Oaks Country Club…

 

Paparazzi…!

 

~ Thank you Michelle and John for letting us capture your wedding day! ~

Tags: Florida Weddings, Naples Florida weddings by Astrid
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Erin at Lucky Me featured Nic and Brittaney’s awesome wedding on her blog. Thanks so much, Erin!

If you are looking for a custom-made monogram, check out Erin’s beautiful designs at her Lucky Design website. Her style is fresh and classic, which is always a hard balance to achieve. Beautiful work so make sure to visit! Thanks Erin, and I’m glad that you share our passion for Sanibel Island. It’s a true gem!

Tags: Florida Weddings, Naples Florida weddings, published! by Astrid
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Our first visit to Ocala proved to be magical! Love was in the air and it felt like we had stepped back in time. Picture rolling green hills dotted with thoroughbreds, historic mansions with character at every turn, Spanish moss-draped ancient Oaks, and of course, love in the air!

~ The Details ~

Venue: Jennifer and Claude exchanged vows in the backyard of a friend’s private home in the beautiful historic district in Ocala. What an incredibly magical place to exchange vows! If I could plan my wedding all over again, this is the setting I would choose in a heartbeat…

Catering/Cake: Cindy Dinges By Decadent
1730 Ne 50th Ave, Ocala, FL 34470-2123
Contact Phone: (352) 236-7668

 

I had to get a little bit of that flare going on here!

 

The beauty of this home really needs no words! And this is Jennifer’s daughter…she was the flower girl and did an amazing job.

 

Jennifer’s gown was the prefect mix of classic and modern detailing.

 

Jennifer and her daughter waiting….

 

This wedding REALLY made me long for some real black and white infrared film. I love the ethereal and magical feeling of these images…

 

In love and married!

 

What’s not to love about the scenery here! Look up or down or around and you have something beautiful staring back at you. And look at Jennifer’s beautiful bouquet. So fresh!

 

In a sea of ferns….

 

The first image below is my favorite of the day…..

 

A beautiful setting….

 

 

I don’t know what to say about the brunch served other than it was incredibly delicious. I’ve had the pleasure of eating at a lot of fine establishments during my career, and I don’t usually say this very often, but this was one of the best catered events I’ve ever tasted. It was our first brunch and Cindy Dinges totally outdid herself. I hear that she is a top favorite with the locals and we could totally taste why! Yes, that is Rum-soaked pineapple and true Southern French toast with a caramel sauce.

Jennifer’s favors were dark-chocolate covered expresso beans (yum yum)! And for the centerpieces? Beautiful vintage green glass bottles looking fabulous in the Florida sun!

 

You can’t help but to be always looking up into the sky here…..

 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you and congratulations to Jennifer and Claude and their family. It truly was a perfect day!

Tags: Florida Weddings by Astrid
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