Before this Sandpearl wedding could take place, someone had to propose! Tim knew that if he were to have proposed at a fancy restaurant or on vacation, Lindsay would have seen it coming. Instead he proposed at home, on a Friday night, just before going out with friends. “Just a bottle of good champagne and a ring.” said the bride.

Lindsay had always dreamed of a beach wedding, and when Tim suggested a visit to the Sandpearl in Clearwater, the couple knew they had found the perfect venue.

Before the big day arrived, Lindsay wasn’t sure she wanted to do a “first look,” but Tim talked her into it, and now she’s so glad that they had those few private moments together. “I started to get super nervous … seeing Tim definitely helped calm my nerves.”

The exchanging of vows was the most important part of the couple’s wedding day, although Lindsay did admit to having stage fright. “We went back and forth, but ultimately decided to write our own vows and not share them with each other until that day, in front of all our friends and family. That’s something we’ll always cherish.”

Handing the reins over to a wedding planner helped the couple truly enjoy their wedding day. “Heather was amazing! She took over everything in the final weeks, and really made it all go smoothly on the day of. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Lindsay has two pieces of advice for future brides: Enjoy the planning and hire a great photographer. “Before you know it, it’s your wedding day, all your planning and hard work pays off, and then it’s over in an instant. You’ll appreciate the photos and it’ll be all you have left to remember that day, so make it count.”

Photos: Robin Reiss Photography

Venue and Caterer: Sandpearl (Jennifer Guidry)

Wedding Planner: Blue Skies Events and Weddings (Heather Tyler)

DJ: Grant Hemond (Ben Daniele)

Photo Booth: Grant Hemond (Michelle)

Flowers: The Brides Bouquet

Hair and Makeup: Femme Akoi (Grissel Estorga and Christine)

Videographer: Ricci Ocampos

Wedding Cake: Let Them Eat Cake

Entertainment: Caladesi Steel Band (Dave Holmstrand)

Tampa wedding photographer loves shooting this brides sunset wedding at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa

So this is where I come in as their wedding photographer… After dating 4 ½ years and watching several of her friends become engaged, Sara had finally accepted the fact that she and Andrew would get married “in 20 years.” But little did she know that her soon-to-be fiancé had already purchased a ring and gotten her family’s blessing. On a trip to the Outer Banks, Andrew dropped to one knee and proposed in front of a group of their friends. Sara says it was “the easiest ‘yes’ ever.”

At her aunt’s suggestion, Sara and Andrew visited Safety Harbor Resort and Spa and fell in love with the venue for their outdoor Florida wedding.

Special moments for a wedding photographer are moments like these:

One of the most special memories Sara and Andrew shared on their wedding day was their “first look” or “first reveal.” This is a private moment, away from guests and prior to the ceremony, when the couple gets to see each other for the first time on their wedding day. They are able to exchange a few private words, and it gives me the opportunity to capture some truly magical photographs. Sara and Andrew invited their parents and wedding party to witness their first look.

One of couple’s most difficult decisions, turned out to be their saving grace: picking the bridal party. “We have so many good friends that have kept in touch with us throughout the years and have always been so supportive of us,” she says.

The eight bridesmaids Sara chose were essential in her big day, even helping the bride make the bouquets the night before her wedding!

Sara has a great piece of advice for brides-to-be considering outdoor weddings: choose your wedding time wisely. “We got married at 6:30 p.m. so we could have sunset photos, but it ended up being a cloudy day, anyway. Had we gotten married a little earlier, even at 6, I think we would’ve had more time to take photos.”