Coldwater Gardens Wedding

A Dreamy, Whimsical Look into Lynsi and Will’s Special Day

Planning a wedding is hard enough but trying to do it while across the country is a whole different struggle. Lynsi and Will brought all of their family and friends from California to the Florida Panhandle for their destination wedding. The natural setting of a Coldwater Gardens wedding provided to perfect backdrop to fit this amazing couples’ personality.

In the wedding photography community we hear a lot about “finding your ideal clients” but what does that mean? For me, I look for couples who have a sense of adventure and who are not afraid to just be themselves. These two embodied that in such a natural way. Their trust in me allowed to build a gallery that just told the story of their entire day. That same trust also enabled me to show them for who they are – adventurous and wildly in love.

Wedding Preparations

Taking Time to Slow Down

As mentioned before, traveling across the country from California for this wedding was an adventure in itself. Having been in contact with Lynsi for several months leading up to their big day I knew that there would be a lot going on during their stay in the Florida panhandle. I wanted to offer them an opportunity to slow down and just soak in a bit of the natural surroundings at Coldwater Gardens. We agreed to meet the day beforethe wedding prior to their rehearsal for a brief lifestyle photoshoot. It was also important for me to get to meet them before their wedding day as well.

What ended up happening was realizing I had found my definition of what an “ideal client” really was. Their love for each other came through so naturally as they both were able to take a step back from the chaos of wedding planning. At the same time, their ease at being able to open up and be themselves as well as their comfort in just being present in the silence of nature was incredibly welcoming.

Mother nature also decided to set the perfect stage for this photo session. It may surprise some to learn that it can actually get quite cold along the Florida panhandle in the winter. In fact, just about a week prior to this wedding, we had ten inches of snow in Milton. Today, however, was much warmer but less humid than we are used to. The cloudless sky also offered the opportunity for dramatic sunbursts to pop through the trees and perfectly frame in the couple.

Wedding Day Preparations in the Cabins

Coldwater Gardens in a unique wedding venue that offers a wide range of different lodging accommodations. Lynsi and Will, along with their closest friends, got ready in two separate cabins on property. There were many people coming in and out throughout the morning. This offered up a lot of wonderful opportunities for candid photos.

Details

Spending some extra time with the bridal party during preparations is a great way to get extra detail shots. I will always try and utilize this time while the bride is finishing up her hair to gather some details. This is also the perfect opportunity get to know everyone a bit more and really get comfortable with each other since we will be spending the much of the remainder of the day together.

First Look in the Greenhouse

Lynsi was excited to do a first look with Will before the ceremony. In an attempt to find a private location that suited these two the best we decided on the greenhouse. The structure of the greenhouse itself acted as a perfect diffuser for the sun, creating wonderful lighting conditions inside. Many times, when shooting a first look, there tends to be people attempting to sneak a peek of that moment when it should be almost entirely a private event. Being at this location also offered us the ability to close the doors to the building and to be completely alone. Naturally, I will give some instruction for the images but I try my best to allow the bride and groom to have that time exclusively to themselves.

After capturing a couple quick photos to set the scene I had Will turn around and just let them enjoy that moment together. I am so happy that these two decided to do this first look before the ceremony. Whenever a couple is on the fence about whether or not they should do a first look I always like to encourage it. Of course if they are strongly against it that is a whole different story. If you were curious you can read my full First Look blog.

Sharing Their Vows

After the first look we moved outside so that Lynsi and Will could sit down and read their vows to each other. Again, this was a moment where I wanted to give them as much space as possible. To do that I pulled out my 70-200mm lens to give them as much space as possible. I never want my couples to even remember I was there at these times so the longer lens is key. I was just far enough away to give them that space and not hear their words but I could certainly see their emotion. The love that these two have for each other was strong and it was beautiful. I know they will be thankful for these moments together and I am thrilled to be able to capture them.

Bridal Portraits at Coldwater Gardens

No Coldwater Gardens Wedding is complete without the bridal photos. Coldwater Gardens is a photographers playground with no shortage of spaces to work in. One more perk to the first look is having time to capture the couple’s photos at this time as well. Now, we can try all we want but to make this happen we need a well thought out timeline. Shoutout to Dixie at Events by Dixie for setting everyone up for success and coordinating a perfect wedding day.

Lynsi, Will and myself spent some time enjoying the grounds and taking some beautiful photos. The sun was a little higher in the sky than most photographers might like to work with but the towering pine trees handled that for us.

Coldwater Gardens Wedding

When you are in a place as peaceful as Coldwater Gardens it is hard to have a bad experience. Lynsi and Will were joined by their closest family and friends for this occasion. The ceremony space was nestled between the main garden and the greenhouse. Shaded by the surrounding trees, mother nature treated everyone to the perfect weather to get married in. You never quite know what you’ll get with an outdoor wedding in Florida. On this day, however, we could not have asked for anything better.

Coldwater Gardens Reception

After the completion of the ceremony it is time to let loose and have a good time. Many of Lynsi and Will’s guests traveled a long way and they were all eager to have a good time. The reception space at Coldwater Gardens is a wonderful mix of a large indoor dining area, complete with a large kitchen, as well as a covered outdoor patio. The patio provides plenty of room for spillover seating if needed. It also was the perfect amount of space for the dance floor on this pleasant winter evening in Milton, FL.

At the end of it all I left this wedding beyond inspired and thankful that these two amazing people found me and trusted me to capture these moments from such a special time in their lives. Between the amazing venue and the love that they share for each other this will forever be one of my favorite weddings that I was lucky enough to be a part of. Connecting with my couples is always important to me and the connection I felt here was just something special I can’t put into words. Thank you both once again. I hope that our paths will cross again before too long.

If you are looking for a photographer to capture your wedding day I am here to help. Please reach out to me here and lets document the magic of your wedding day together.