A Beautiful Farm Wedding at the Woodberry, FL

When I tell couples I offer full-day wedding coverage, I mean all day. I’ll be there from when you’re getting ready to the final send-off. Your day is filled with moments big and small that deserve to be remembered, and you shouldn’t rush your day or have to choose which parts of your day to preserve.

Riley and Kyle’s farm wedding at Woodberry in Havana, FL, was a perfect example of why capturing every moment of your day as it naturally unfolds is so important. Every couple deserves a photographer who can capture the essence of their love story while helping them feel at ease, and Riley and Kyle embraced the process wholeheartedly. Their trust allowed me to create a gallery that reflected who they are—genuine, adventurous, and madly in love.

Getting Ready in the Bridal Cabin

Woodberry offers a cozy bridal cabin for all the getting-ready moments, which is where Riley and her party spent the morning prepping for the big day. I captured sweet moments of the girls getting their hair and makeup done, but my favorite was sneaking in shots of the bridesmaids practicing their speeches together—a moment Riley didn’t even know was happening!

Once the guys were dressed and ready to go, I had some time to photograph some portraits of everyone, including some awesome solo shots of the groom while he was waiting for the ceremony to begin. I also got a chance to be there with them while they kicked back and just relaxed with each other.

These behind-the-scenes moments are why I love my documentary-style approach to your wedding day. It’s not just about the posed photos, and while you definitely have some of those, it’s still about capturing the real and often unexpected pieces of your day that make it uniquely yours.

This also gives me the chance to break the ice with the bridal parties and get to know everyone a little bit. It tends to get everyone to relax and open up, which usually makes for an easier time as the day moves along. 

First Look with the Bridesmaids

Riley wanted to have a first look with her bridesmaids, so we decided to head over to the venue’s vineyard to capture this part of the day. The vineyard offered a change of scenery from the bridal cabin and kept Kyle out of view. I absolutely loved capturing the reactions! Using the vineyard allowed me to incorporate more of Woodberry’s stunning property into the gallery.

First Touch and Private Vow Exchange

Riley and Kyle wanted to exchange private vows but also save the first look for the aisle, and I was more than happy to find a way to make it happen! So we chose to use a large oak tree in the middle of the property right outside of the bridal cabin where the two of them would stand with their backs to the tree, get to exchange vows, and not see each other.

To preserve the intimacy of the moment, I kept my distance and used a long lens. They deserved to have that intimate moment together without the sounds and distractions of me moving around them. It was an absolutely beautiful scene.

The bridesmaids, meanwhile, couldn’t resist sneaking a peek from the cabin window—a moment I just had to document. These little interactions between friends and family are what make wedding days so special.

A Farm Wedding Ceremony Under the Pines

The ceremony space at the Woodberry is stunning. They exchanged vows under the canopy of the tall pines and oak trees situated adjacent to the vineyard. The venue’s wide open space gave me the opportunity to capture photos of Riley walking down to the ceremony and Kyle getting his first look as Riley walked down the aisle.

Oftentimes, you’d need a second shooter to get both perspectives.

Golden Hour Portraits and Celebration

After the ceremony, we went on to take family and wedding party photos before stealing away for the couple’s portrait. We managed to time them perfectly to begin just as the golden hour was beginning to light up the sky above the pines. 

Back at the barn, the celebration continued with dinner, speeches, and dancing under the stars. For their first dance, held outdoors, I broke out my drone to capture a unique aerial view. With strategically placed lighting, the shadow of their dance formed a heart—a creative touch that Riley and Kyle absolutely loved.

About the Woodberry, a Florida Farm Wedding Venue

Woodberry is hands-down one of my absolute favorite venues! This family-owned wedding space is nestled on a 215-acre former tobacco farm, and it truly is a photographer’s dream. With an abundance of scenic backdrops, it offers endless opportunities to capture unique and stunning images. From the large open field to the seemingly ancient oak trees and the hanging Spanish moss to the pond, vineyard, or towering pines, there is no shortage of natural inspiration to really get any photographer’s creative juices flowing.

The large, renovated barn provides the perfect space for hosting a larger wedding reception of up to 175 people, while the outdoor dance floor lets guests celebrate under the stars. A cozy firepit and an outdoor bar next to the dance floor add to the ambiance, creating a warm and inviting setting for any celebration.

I also like the thoughtfully designed spaces for both wedding parties. The bridal cabin is a nice spot for the bride and her party to prepare for the day, while the groomsmen’s “speakeasy” style barn far exceeds any getting-ready space I’ve seen at other venues. With a bar, pool table, card table, TV, multiple couches, and plenty of room to relax, it’s the ultimate hangout spot.

For couples looking for a natural, rustic, complete farm wedding venue, I cannot recommend Woodberry enough, and I can’t wait to return and work there again.

Kind Words

“We cannot express how amazing our photos were for our wedding day. Kris was very committed to us and our needs for the entirety of the day and brought so much creativity that we didn’t know we needed to our photos. Not to mention, he was professional and very comfortable to work with. We highly recommend using Kris to take your photos.”

Kris Rollason Photography | Pensacola Wedding Photographer

From the quiet moments of the morning to the final send-off, every part of Riley and Kyle’s wedding was filled with memories worth preserving. The full-day coverage allowed me to document their entire story, ensuring no detail was missed.

Ready to chat about your Florida wedding photography? Let’s connect!