Emily and Ted, thank you for having us as part of your wedding.  You two did a wonderful job having the day reflect your personalities and your love.  Congratulations, and be sure to stay in touch!

The wedding’s theme was A Midsummer’s Night Dream and the flower girls wore pretty fairy costumes in purples and greens.  Mom loved the bridesmaids’ attire!  They all had different colored gowns in beautiful summer colors.  The reception was decorated in pinks and purples and greens with lots of orchids and branches.  Tables were named after couples from Shakespeare plays and guests got their seating assignments on a booklet of cookie recipes.  Guests were also treated to lots and lots of homemade cookies.  Thanks to Meghan for setting some aside and sending them home for us, and of course thanks to Jamie and Tristan for that as well!

It was a day filled with emotion and love to celebrate an amazing couple.  We are incredibly happy for them and the wonderful future they have to look forward to.  Tristan and Jamie, thank you so much for having us share in your wedding and we hope you two stay in touch!

The wedding took place on the spot where Todd proposed.  What a special ceremony!  One of the couple’s friends officiated the wedding while the other was a reader.  Dad was honored to have a part in the ceremony as well and he read a blessing for Karen and Todd.   After the romantic ceremony, dad photographed the couple on the beach for sunset.  They then had their cake cutting with a pretty cake from Publix before a few more pictures at night.

Though it is so much fun to joke around with Karen and Todd, with all kidding aside we think they are terrific people and we wish them all the best.  We hope they keep the laughter through their marriage.  Thank you so much for including us in such a special day.  It was “exxxxcellennnnt.”

It is always wonderful to work with Darla Stafford, and she is so talented!  She did Claire’s hair and makeup the morning of the wedding as she got ready at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort.  Claire looked amazing!  Her gown was perfect for her and the detailing both around the waist and down the train was gorgeous.  Meghan and Angela from Dream Day Productions were the wedding coordinators.  Dad was happy to see them again and they did a terrific job.

To get family pictures done before the ceremony, Claire and Shai had a First Sight.  Shai had the biggest smile as he waited for Claire, who was teary with emotion, to approach from behind.  It was a really sweet moment.  Seeing each other before the ceremony did not take anything away from the emotion of Claire coming down the aisle though!  That moment brought both the bride and groom to tears.  Marci Vitkus was the officiant and led the couple through the Jewish traditions that they included.  Dad has worked with Marci before and thinks she is great.

The wedding colors were green and purple with accents in white and the reception room was decorated with bright floral arrangements in those colors as well as linens and chair sashes to make the tables pretty.  Mom liked how the guest tables were round and had white tablecloths and green chair sashes to contrast with the head table which was a long table with a green table cloth and white chair sashes.  Chivari chairs were used at both the ceremony and reception and dressed up the look.

Rob Sword of Sword Sounds was the DJ and Claire, Shai, and their guests had a blast on the dance floor!  During the reception, Claire changed into a fun dress and her and Shai performed a salsa dance.  They also packed the dance floor for the Hora.  Claire and Shai took a quick break from dancing to get some pictures outside the Lyceum at night, but when they went back in they weren’t ready for the party to end and neither were their guests!  Everyone was having such a wonderful time that the couple extended the reception to make the special day last a bit longer and to celebrate for just a little while more.

What a terrific day for an awesome couple.  Claire and Shai are great people and we know they are going to have happy life together.  Congratulations and thanks so much for having us as a part of your wedding!

Claire got a decorative hanger to make her dress pictures even better!

The bride and groom asked us not to share images of them due to their job, but we are happy to share some of the beautiful details from their wedding day.  Congratulations newlyweds!  Enjoy your honeymoon!

Dad got to work with Dream Day Productions for the second week in a row.  They did a great job helping the day run smoothly and dad is excited to see them again this weekend!  Chuck from Hearts Video was the videographer.  Dad was glad to work with him again.  Julissa Mercado from Beauty Brought Out was the stylist (Kendra looked gorgeous!) and Frank Lebano was the DJ at the reception.

At the engagement session, dad was able to meet the couple’s adorable daughter.  He was surprised at how much older she looked since then!  Mom loved that Kendra and Brandon included her in the ceremony and other parts of the day.  She was so excited about the whole wedding.

Kendra and Brandon are a down to earth couple and grounded in love.  We know they have a wonderful future ahead of them.  Congratulations!

Brandon had a tutorial on tying a bow tie…

…but it didn’t seem to help

One of mom’s favorite pictures:

WOW!  Kendra is stunning!

Jewish weddings are very meaningful because they include traditions that go back for centuries.  People often say that it breaks tradition for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony, but in a Jewish wedding that IS the tradition!  The couple meets to sign the marriage contract, the ketubah, before meeting under the chuppah to exchange vows.

Dad said the couple’s family and friends were friendly and welcoming.  Lauren’s mom made his day when she told him that she thought it was a blessing to have him there.  It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy for the newlyweds.  Congratulations!