wedding

February 26, 2026

Planning My Own Wedding After 12 Years as an Orlando Wedding Photographer

I have photographed a lot of weddings.
Like… a lot.

For the past 12 years, I have had a front row seat to love stories unfolding in every possible way. Big weddings. Small weddings. Elegant ballroom moments and barefoot backyard vows. And somewhere along the way, without even realizing it, I started quietly collecting ideas. Moments. Feelings. Little details that made my heart pause.

So when it came time to plan my own wedding this February, it felt surreal. I was finally stepping into the day I had been mentally bookmarking for over a decade. Not as an Orlando wedding photographer behind the camera, but as the bride living it.

And honestly? It was EVERYTHING I hoped it would be.

An Intimate Orlando Wedding With Only the People Who Matter Most

We knew from the start that we wanted something intimate and intentional. No giant guest list or pressure to perform. Just our closest friends and family gathered in one place to celebrate our love.

We landed right around 50 guests, and that number felt perfect. Every face in the room mattered. Every hug felt personal. It created a sense of warmth that you simply cannot manufacture.

This was never about doing the most. It was about feeling the most.

A First Look That We Will Never Forget

We also chose to do a first look, and it ended up being one of the most emotional parts of the entire day. We did it in the sculpture garden at the Lake Nona Wave Hotel where we were staying, surrounded by modern art and greenery that felt calm and private. Instead of the traditional tap on the shoulder, we decided to do it back to back because we wanted to see each other at the exact same moment. And wow. When we turned around, it was instant tears. It felt grounding, intimate, and so us. Doing a first look also gave us the gift of time. We were able to take our couples photos beforehand without feeling rushed, which meant we could actually enjoy cocktail hour later without stress. I also did a bride reveal with my girls, and they absolutely showed up. Short of fainting, they made me feel so loved and celebrated. Seeing their reactions is something I will cherish forever. They each chose dresses that reflected their own personal style while still fitting perfectly into the color palette, and they looked incredible. That moment set the tone for the entire day.

And OMG my team of photographers– our very own, Michelle, Yomy & Alisha alongside Bishop & Andrew on video did an amazinggggg job of capturing the most stunning portraits of us. I’ve never felt more like a celebrity in my life! Of course my beauty team BTS Glam also played a huge role in that. I basically told Liz & Ashley I wanted to look like Kim Kardashian (haha!) and they truly nailed it.

Falling in Love With Wanderlust Okto in Lake Nona

The moment we walked into Wanderlust Okto in Lake Nona, we both knew. You know that feeling when a venue just clicks? That was it.

The space is unique, cozy, modern, and full of personality. It felt like us immediately. What made it even better was that they handled catering and bar in house, which removed so much stress from the planning process. The food was incredible. The drinks were flowing. The staff was attentive and kind.

And Erik, the venue owner, truly made the experience special. We connected with him right away, and that human element mattered so much to us. When the people behind a space genuinely care, you feel it.

A Ceremony That Felt Like a Movie Scene

Our ceremony took place under the tree on a clean white circular stage, surrounded by what felt like a meadow of flowers.

It was modern, light, airy, and emotional all at once.

My florist, Alyssa Maldonado, absolutely nailed the vision. The florals were structural yet soft. Contemporary but romantic. Everything I love visually came together so beautifully.

Our ceremony was officiated by a close family friend, and I still get chills thinking about it. He spoke from the heart. It was intentional. It was emotional. By the time he finished, there truly was not a dry eye in the place.

One of the most meaningful moments was something we called our “sea of hearts.” We invited our guests to hold up their hands in the shape of a heart and send us their love and well wishes while we looked out at everyone we love. Standing there, taking it all in, was overwhelming in the best way.

Music That Gave Us Goosebumps

Music was huge for us.

Cesar walked out to Debi Tirar Mas Fotos by Bad Bunny played live on saxophone. I walked down the aisle to Ojitos Lindos. And wow. The saxophone brought a whole other level of emotion. UNREAL.

The way the sound echoed through the space made it feel cinematic. Like we were inside a movie. Our sax player Richard absolutely blew us away. Watching him reinterpret one of our favorite Latin artists in such a soulful way is something I will never forget.

It was hands down one of our favorite parts of the day.

A Cocktail Hour That Became Our Wedding Favor

During cocktail hour, we did family photos, but we also did something a little different.

We brought in a third photographer whose sole job was to photograph our guests. Couples. Families. Friends. Even a few dating profile photos mixed in, because why not? ;)

This was our wedding favor.

Everyone walked away with a professional portrait, and people loved it. It felt personal, thoughtful and very photographer-coded. So us!

At the end of cocktail hour, we made a surprise entrance through the rooftop of the bar area. It was unexpected and fun and instantly set the tone for the night.

Before our sax player wrapped up, we shared a quick dance together to one of the custom songs we had picked out, soaking in the moment before the energy shifted into party mode.

Designing a Reception That Felt Effortless and Modern

I worked closely with my wedding planner & friend, Orlando Designer Weddings by Carly Rose, to bring the reception vision to life.

Instead of spending budget on chargers, napkins, and glassware, we chose to make linens the focal point. We selected them together from Nuage Linens, and I am so glad we did. It elevated the space instantly.

We opted for open seating with a mix of long tables, round tables, and high tops. We wanted guests to move, mingle, and feel relaxed. No assigned seats just pure vibessss.

The color palette was neutrals and earth tones, and we asked our guests to dress in earth tones as well. Every group photo looked cohesive and elevated without trying too hard.

A Reception Entrance That Was So Us

Our reception entrance was definitley one of my favorite moments of the night (but I mean there were so many!).

We had our friend come in as our “bottle girl” holding a light up sign with our new last name. I entered with a Puerto Rican flag and Cesar entered with a Dominican flag. It was the perfect joy-filled and playful way to honor of culture.

From there, we went straight into a lightly choreographed first dance that our instructors at Forever Dance helped us prepare for. It felt natural, not too stiff, and perfectly us.

We did toasts and then cut the cake immediately because we did not want to interrupt the dance floor later. Best decision!

Cake, Culture, and So. Much. Dancing.

Our cake was a guava filled dream by Iced by Taylor. For our guests, we served half Puerto Rican style cake and half Dominican cake, complete with tiny toothpick flags. It was another nod to our cultures and became such a fun conversation starter.

Once the dancing started, it truly never stopped.

Our DJ Sebastian with iRockYourParty absolutely crushed it. The dance floor lights alone deserve their own shoutout because they are a huge reason our reception photos look the way they do. He also brought out a CO2 cannon, which was wildly fun and such a cool touch. (Literally though, because the smoke is cold and it feels so nice!)

At some point, I changed into a more comfortable dress, and Carly brought out gold tinsel light-up wands that I found on Etsy. Let me tell you. These were worth every penny. They added so much movement, sparkle, and energy to the photos and the end of our reception feel incredibly magical.

After a private last dance, we exited through sparkler fountains and a sea of tinsel wands. It felt surreal. Dreamy. Like a moment frozen in time that I will truly never forget.

The After Party Was a Must

Because we are animals lol, we were not ready for the night to end. Especially with so many guests that were visiting from out of town.

So we headed to our after party at Cafe 34 Istanbul, a hookah lounge that is open until 4am. Highly recommend. The vibes were immaculate. The energy was still high. And it was the perfect way to close out the celebration.

Seeing Weddings Through a New Lens as an Orlando Wedding Photographer

I know this might sound dramatic, but being on the other side of the camera changed me.

Experiencing the day instead of documenting it gave me a deeper understanding of how important intentional moments are. How much energy matters. How details are not just details, they are memories.

This wedding was a reflection of 12 years of watching love unfold and finally getting to live my own version of it. And as an Orlando wedding photographer, I truly feel even more connected to my couples now.

If you are planning your wedding and want something that feels elevated but personal, stylish but not staged, and emotional without being overwhelming, just know that it is possible.

And it is so worth it. All the stress, tears and frustration (I had it too!) are 1000000% worth it.

If you want help bringing that vision to life through Orlando wedding photography, you know where to find me.

Til then, enjoy a handful of my favorite moments from our most perfect day. 🤍