SO Photography

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Weddings
    • Engagements
    • Boudoir
  • INVESTMENT
  • contact
  • Blog
  • reviews
  • Cinematography
orange county history center gay wedding_0001.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0002.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0003.jpg

Ryan and Steve | A Dream Come True in the Heart of Orlando | Orange County Regional History Center Wedding

orange county regional history center
March 07, 2018 by sara ozim in Wedding

I am one of the most fortunate wedding photographers in existence, for each of my clients truly turn into forever friends. In June of 2016, days after the PULSE tragedy that forever rocked the city of Orlando, we met for the first time amongst the city streets, filled with people mourning for their community and lost loved ones. We cried together and comforted each other, before we even learned each other's names. Later, we connected the dots through our mutual friends, and met once more under the best of circumstances, as our friends surprised everyone they knew by getting married at their engagement party - and Ryan happened to be the officiant. Since then, I have gotten to see these boys rather regularly and our friendship grew over time. When they got engaged, my heart soared because I knew that they were the kind of couple that would make it until the end together. The opportunity to capture their story has not only been an absolute pleasure, but a true honor. True lovers of the city of Orlando and history buffs, they put together an unforgettable event themed around Orlando City Soccer mixed with the early 1900’s Americana and classic American look - and man, did they pull it off!

orange county history center gay wedding_0004.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0005.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0006.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0007.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0008.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0009.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0010.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0011.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0012.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0013.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0014.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0015.jpg

They chose to have a first look and spend the entire day together, and it was absolutely heart warming. We knocked out all of the formal party portraits (to be seen further in the post), which allowed the boys to enjoy part of their cocktail hour! 

I had seen a handful of weddings amidst the streets of downtown Orlando in the past, always curious as to which venue books the location - when Ryan and Steve told me that they were getting married right in the heart of Wall Street with the Orange County Regional History Center, it was finally a dream come true of mine! Since relocating to downtown Orlando several years ago, I have fallen in love with it's unique streets and hidden gems that give it such great character.  "Saying I do and raising the love of my life’s hand to let everyone know that I am married to my best friend", was Steve's favorite part of the day.

orange county history center gay wedding_0016.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0017.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0018.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0019.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0020.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0021.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0022.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0023.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0024.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0025.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0026.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0028.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0027.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0029.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0030.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0031.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0032.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0033.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0034.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0035.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0036.jpg

Remember earlier when I mentioned that we knocked out those group pics ahead of the ceremony so they could enjoy part of cocktail hour? Well, that ended up being Ryan's favorite part of the day! He wrote "My favorite part of the day was the photo shoot with all our friends joining in with us. I love everyone and was so happy that they all agreed to be in our wedding!" 

orange county history center gay wedding_0037.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0038.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0039.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0040.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0041.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0042.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0043.jpg

When the ceremony was over and the guests filled the History Center to much on delicious apps and sip yummy beverages, we wandered all over the streets of downtown, hitting all of my favorite nooks and crannies and creating a truly memorable groom portrait session that showed off what Orlando has to offer. I could take pictures of these two love birds ALL. DAY.

orange county history center gay wedding_0044.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0045.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0046.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0047.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0048.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0049.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0050.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0051.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0052.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0053.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0054.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0055.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0056.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0057.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0058.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0059.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0060.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0061.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0062.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0063.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0064.jpg

The decorations were lovely hues of purple and with personal touches sprinkled throughout, including a memorial to the 49 souls that have forever spread their wings. I then captured one of the most amazing receptions I have ever seen, complete with a drag show that left every guest giggling at the performance, and a playlist that kept everyone on the dance floor all night long. The joy of their union is felt throughout the entire day, and I love what advice they had to offer to future SO couples more than anything: 

"During the reception, take 5 minutes with your new spouse and just stand in a corner. Let the attention fall off you both for 5 minutes and look. Take in everything going on around you. See your middle school friends interacting with your college friends. Your high school friends meeting your spouses elementary school friends, your old baby sitter meeting your coworker. Truly a vision and memory I will always remember."

I couldn't have said it better, myself.

orange county history center gay wedding_0065.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0066.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0067.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0068.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0069.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0070.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0071.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0072.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0073.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0074.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0075.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0076.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0077.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0078.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0080.jpg
orange county history center gay wedding_0081.jpg

Thank you to Ryan and Steve for having my team capture this huge moment in your life - we are so happy for you both and wish you the happiest of ever afters!

orange county history center gay wedding_0079.jpg

A huge thank you to all of the vendors that helped make their day extra special:

  • Photographers: Sara Ozim along with Andy Maldonado and Hannah Estes from Light Up Wedding Photography
  • Coordination: Kristy Rapp Events
  • Venue: Orange County Regional History Center
  • DJ & Lighting: Elegant Entertainment
  • Photo Booth: Snapshot Orlando
  • Catering: Levan's Catering
  • Cake: It's Tasty Too!
March 07, 2018 /sara ozim
downtown orlando wedding, orlando Orange County history center wedding, history center wdding, history center wedding, orlando gay wedding, two grooms wedding, gay wedding, orlando gay wedding photographer, orlando lgbt wedding photographer, groom style
Wedding
  • Newer
  • Older

Sara Ozim is a Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer based in Orlando, Savannah, Raleigh, the Florida Keys and St. Petersburg and is available for travel and destination weddings worldwide.