Julia & Sean
When you think of the beach, what do you picture? For me, it's all about the peace and calm of watching the tide roll in with nothing but the soundtrack of the waves to soothe your thoughts and help you appreciate the beauty of nature in all its glory.
As a wedding photographer, though, the beach comes with its own issues as it is, by far, one of the hardest places to shoot wedding photos. I think that's why I couldn't help but appreciate just how carefree and easygoing everything was at sunset on the evening of Julia and Sean's beach wedding at Blue Ocean Music Hall back in June.
After a day of blinding sunshine that made formal photos a true challenge, I wasn't sure if I'd have a second chance to get Julia and Sean back near the water for some sunset photos. But not only were they eager to go back out and appreciate the view, they were giddy, laughing and having a blast frolicking in the sand.
I can think of no greater way to sum up a wedding that was truly about nothing but good vibes and great times.
From the moment I walked into Blue Ocean Music Hall for Julia and Sean's wedding, I could tell we were in for a relaxed day. It was obvious by the fact that this bride and groom were getting ready mere feet from one another and didn't care if they saw each other before their ceremony.
Of course, it helps that Julia and Sean made their marriage official a few days before this June celebration but, nonetheless, I couldn't help but appreciate how cool, calm and collected both this bride and groom looked and felt as they finished the final touches in getting ready for their special day.
Julia, in particular, was beyond relaxed … even as she knew guests were arriving and she quickly slipped into her beautiful wedding dress without a worry in the world.
I knew from chatting with Julia and Sean in the lead-up to their wedding that they weren't looking for anything too stressful or rigid for their wedding ceremony and that was evident once I saw the room they were getting married in and watched them each come down the aisle.
With a cool, blue light reflecting in from the beach just feet below, Julia and Sean's ceremony had all the vibes of the ocean … and thankfully none of the wind.
The two kept their second round of nuptials in a week short, sweet and to the point and you could tell how much this moment meant for them to share with their guests by just how big their smiles got with each word of their vows and their official first kiss.
With their ceremony in the books, Julia and Sean brought their closest friends and family members outside on the beach for formal photos and, suffice to say, as beautiful as the ocean was on this warm summer day, the sun was not doing us any favors.
To their credit, Julia and Sean stayed positive despite some blinding light and I was so thankful they did as we still managed to get some nice photos of them on the water before making our way to the nearby boardwalk and a fun carousel to give their eyes a chance to recover from the sunlight.
I loved these formal photos, particularly the ones off of the beach but I could tell we'd need a few more later on to really capture their vibe best.
To me, the real test of what kind of wedding day Julia and Sean would have would come when we headed back inside to their venue for their reception.
And based exclusively on their first dance — set to “Better Place” by Rachel Platten — I knew it would be a healthy mix of sweet, romantic and downright fun.
Julia and Sean kept their reception low key and casual and, following their first dance, the pair took their seats for four sweet toasts that really set a strong tone for the rest of the evening.
After dinner, the real fun began.
Julia and Sean kickstarted the second half of their reception program with one of the funniest cake cuttings I've seen as the pair accidentally broke the knife they were using in the cake itself.
It was the perfect moment of lighthearted laughter before both Julia and Sean danced with their mothers in the final formalities of the evening.
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from Julia and Sean's wedding reception as it was still pretty light out when the dance floor opened but, to their credit, the guests at this wedding came determined to have a great time.
From the first dance song of the evening, the floor was packed with both children and adults and the mood was set early on.
Right in the middle were the newlyweds and they were having so much time that I almost felt guilty about asking them to go back outside for some sunset formals. Almost.
I have to be honest. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get Julia and Sean to agree to go back outside for more bride and groom portraits but I'm so glad they did as the light was perfect and the vibes were even better.
Almost from the moment we hit the sand, Julia and Sean were laughing and joking with each other and that fun spirit carried over with my favorite photos of the entire day.
Back inside the venue, Julia and Sean's friends and family members were still on the dance floor having a great time.
It's only fitting, of course, that the bride and groom immediately rejoined them.
I think what stands out to me the most about Julia and Sean's wedding was … honestly, I didn't expect they'd be so deeply into dancing. I have a lot of brides and grooms who will jump in the middle of a packed dance floor for a song or two but it was so nice to see these two rarely leave the dance floor and always be within arm's reach of one another.
As my time with Julia and Sean came to an end, and the lights came up at their venue, I had the pleasure of watching guests say goodbye as I packed my gear. To a tee, each person that interacted with this bride and groom left with a giant smile on their face and I know the newlyweds did as well.
To me, that's the sign of a successful wedding day and there's no denying Julia and Sean certainly had a ton of fun they won't soon forget.
So congratulations Julia and Sean on a beautiful wedding celebration. I know it was everything you wanted and more and I wish you luck on this next part of your journey together as husband and wife.
