Bre & Jon’s wedding this past Saturday was one of my most anticipated celebrations of the year. For starters, I’ve never photographed a beach wedding of my own and I was so eager to see what it would be like! Additionally, Bre and I have a long history (we used to be coworkers!) and we’ve spent a great deal of time together in the past year and a half between her engagement session last fall and her dear friend Lexi’s wedding this past spring. Now I’m kind of sad that this is all coming to an end!

The 30A area of Florida’s coastline holds a lot of special memories for Bre & Jon. Bre’s grandmother has lived in this area for decades, and recently her parents moved to the area as well. Together, Bre & Jon have already forged many memories on these beaches, and now they can add this milestone celebration to their cache!

Bre & Jon rented a large house right near the beach where they’d host many of their guests and hold the post-ceremony, poolside reception. But first it was time to get wedding day ready! Bre & Jon both got ready at the house, but saved their first look for after they were all dressed in their wedding day attire. After their first look, Bre & Jon and their wedding party took a small field trip to Eden Gardens State Park for portraits. Despite being a beautiful Saturday afternoon, hardly anyone was on the property! As we walked further into the park peaceful zen fell over the entire group. In fact, once we finished wedding party group portraits, most of the wedding party opted to explore the property further instead of waiting in the limo. It was honestly the perfect way to spend portrait time!

After portraits, we headed back to the house for final touchups before Bre & Jon’s beachside ceremony. As the sun began setting on the horizon, Bre & Jon exchanged the most beautiful vows. (Or was that just the sun in my eyes?)

We intended to capture Bre & Jon’s final portraits of the day just after family photos on the beach. But the lighting was still too harsh! This is where I need to toot my own horn. As we were capturing some initial portraits, my gut just kept telling me that this wasn’t the right time for these portraits! They weren’t going to turn out as beautifully as any of us wanted. So I listened to my gut, stopped what I we were doing, and asked Bre & Jon if they’d be willing to go back to the beach during dinnertime. Their reception home was literally across the street so I knew it wouldn’t be a long walk. Bre & Jon wholeheartedly agreed and OH MY GOSH was it soooooo worth it!! Like, words cannot describe the fireworks going off in my brain while I was capturing Bre & Jon’s final portraits wrapped in the most perfect cotton candy sunset. It’s a wonder I could function the rest of the evening.

It was going to be hard to top those sunset portraits, but Bre & Jon managed to pull it off with the most epic reception! Their delicious dinner was followed by toasts and first dances. And you could probably fill the hot tub with the amount of tequila poured that night. But it was all worth it because at the very end of the evening, Bre & Jon – along with most of their guests! – plunged into the pool fully dressed!

So it’s safe to say that Bre & Jon’s wedding day far exceeded the hype I have been giving it for the past 15 months. This was truly one of the most special, meaningful, unique weddings I’ve ever had the pleasure to capture and I’m so glad that Bre & Jon brought me along for the adventure!

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A HUGE thank you to the team that made this day spectacular!

venue: 30A, Florida | private beach house
coordination & catering: The Eventful Planner
beauty: Myah Glam Co.
floral design: Our Greenhouse
bridal attire: True Society by Belle Vogue
entertainment: Emerald Coast Entertainment
rentals: 850 Event Rentals

CHEERS TO BRE & JON!

Can’t get enough of these lovebirds? Check out their engagement session!