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Arundel Estate Wedding | Shannon and Alex

posted on : December 13, 2018

bride with long flowy dress with groom with grey suit with large white column house in background at Arundel Estate Wedding

Shannon and Alex’s Arundel Estate wedding day was one that I had been looking forward to and patiently waiting a year and a half to finally roll around on my calendar. They were close friends of another couple near and dear to my heart (I’m talking about you, Molly and John! Fun fact: Shannon was one of Molly’s bridesmaids) and it only took one multi-location FaceTime while Shannon was in Tennessee becoming a Veterinarian for us to become instant-friends. Planning for the big day may have taken some serious twists and turns when their original reception venue unexpectedly fell through, but in the end, fate persevered and a quick relocation to Arundel Estate proved to be an absolute dream come true.

Shannon and her girls (Molly included!) got ready at the stunning estate in their comfy bridesmaid pajamas, and the bride was kind enough to trust me completely as I threw her dress over the balcony ledge to get the dreamy dress shot I had in mind. Shannon checked off all of her traditions with her grandmother’s blue rosary, mother’s old veil, a bracelet borrowed from her mother-in-law, and a pair of sweet new custom-drawn Tom’s. Alex surprised Shannon with a stunning pearl necklace and earring set from Brilliant Earth, and a constellation map of their wedding day.

Shannon’s Essense of Australia dress was an absolute dream – low back, detailed embellishments, and a touch of whimsy completed Shannon’s elegant yet boho vibes perfectly.

Alex and the guys had a great time hanging with Makenzie before heading over to the church for the ceremony – they even took the time to practice dipping!

Shannon and Alex had their ceremony at Saint Stephen’s Catholic Church in Winter Springs, Florida, where Shannon had been attending mass all her life. Keeping it traditional was super important to Shannon and Alex, but they DID want to at least sneak in the first touch. We found a semi-hidden area behind some bushes and trees and brought these two together to touch, if only for a moment, before their ceremony. They chose to exchange sweet letters to each other.

After a bittersweet tease of being right next to each other and yet not being able to see one another, they were both more than ready to say “I DO!”, even if for a moment the bride seemed to have mysteriously disappeared, leaving only her dress behind. Luckily she was back from the restroom and in the dress a moment later, ready to see Alex at the end of the aisle. One of our favorite shots is the fist-bump between Molly and the wedding planner, Rebecca Lang from Live Laugh Love Events because it showcases how teamwork is the dreamwork. Alex’s reaction to seeing Shannon for the first time is absolutely heartwarming!

After their beautiful ceremony, we headed back over to Arundel Estate to capture the family and formal party portraits – which is always a good time, especially when the group is so large (and fun!).

We were fortunate enough to plan to take time to capture Alex and Shannon’s portraits during TWO different parts of the day: when we first got to the estate, and then again for the absolute glorious sunset that followed the golden hour. We were absolutely OBSESSED with the market lights strewn all throughout the open-air reception area. Cocktail Catering delivered a scrumptious meal for guests and then a donut wall was brought out for dessert – basically, this wedding was a foodie’s dream. Guests danced the night away until the very sparkly exit. It was an absolute honor to capture Alex and Shannon’s Arundel Estate wedding day!