It was a beautiful overcast day in Orlando on the 24th of November at the Cypress Grove Estate House and all of us were budding with excitement for the wedding of Samantha and Chris. Soft, romantic flowers and golden accents were everywhere – and the couple even had a popcorn bar! I have known Chris for several years and was beyond honored when he contacted me about capturing he and Samantha’s special day. After meeting her, I instantly knew that they were perfect for each other! It was an honor to be there for their joyous occasion!
They decided to do a First Look – my absolute favorite thing! Their emotions were running high and their words say it all!
Chris: “My favorite part of the day was our first look. I was so nervous, but even more excited, to see my bride-to-be. For months, I tried to visualize her in her dress, but when I saw her, I could not stop looking at her. She looked so beautiful. The first look allowed us to hug each other as well as share private words to one another, prior to the ceremony. It also helped with the nerves a little bit, for when she came down the aisle. This also gave us some additional time for more pictures. I highly recommend the first look.”
Sam: “I’m so very glad we did a first look! We both knew that our nerves would get the best of us, so the first look helped us to let our nerves settle before the ceremony. It was so special to share that moment privately. I’ll never forget his reaction to seeing me for the first time! It is one of my favorite memories from the day. “
And then it was on to the actual ceremony – Chris could barely breathe his bride was so beautiful walking towards him! The cutest wagon boy decided that flowers were delicious instead of pretty and the wind decided to play with Sam’s veil.
The Cypress Grove Estate House is GORGEOUS with tons of spots for beautiful pictures – and even room for an antique car to join in for some of the photos!
From there – what else was there to do but PARTAAAAAAAAAAY?!
The bride and groom decided to end their special evening with a private dance – and here is what Sam had to say about it: “My favorite part of the day was a private dance we did at the very end of the night. The band sent everyone out so that we could have this moment just the two of us. I didn’t realize it beforehand, but the bride and groom don’t get a lot of alone time together on their wedding day. The band played a beautiful acoustic song and my husband and I got to hold each other and enjoy reflecting on the best day of our lives. An added benefit was it helped move the guests out to prepare for the sparkler exit.”
Congratulations to Chris and Samantha!!! It was an honor to be a part of your special day. Thank you for trusting the team at SNAPS BY SO to capture every memory!
Parting words from the Bride and Groom:
- If you could do the day all over again, what would you do differently?
The only thing I would have done differently would be to stick to the getting ready timeline a bit better. My hair and makeup ran a little late, which pushed everything back a little. Thankfully, we had some wiggle room, but it would have been nice to have the extra time for pictures that we had hoped for.
- Do you have any advice for other Brides and Grooms that may read your blog post?
I’m sure you’ll hear it from other people, but be sure to take it all in on the big day. It will go by faster than you could ever imagine! I knew I would be nervous during the ceremony and was able to calm my nerves by just living in the moment. I stopped myself a few times during the night to just look around and cherish it. I’m so glad I have those “mental pictures” to hold on to!
