A Destination Wedding at St. Regis Deer Valley | Brynn & Cooper

A Refined Mountain Wedding at The St. Regis Deer Valley

A wedding in Deer Valley offers a distinct sense of place. Mountain views and towering aspens create an atmosphere that feels naturally removed from everyday life. For this St. Regis Deer Valley wedding, the Utah landscape became an essential part of the celebration.

Planned by Melissa Fancy, the day paired classic design with the relaxed beauty of the mountains. Every setting felt considered without competing with the landscape around it.

A Floral-Filled Church Ceremony in Deer Valley

The wedding began with a traditional church ceremony surrounded by white flowers and greenery. Florals framed the entrance and welcomed guests as they arrived.

Inside, arrangements lined the aisle and continued toward the altar. The warm wood architecture created a beautiful contrast against the soft white florals. Tall windows also brought natural light into the ceremony space.

The result felt romantic, timeless and appropriate for the mountain setting.

Wedding Portraits in the Utah Mountains

Following the ceremony, we stepped into the surrounding Deer Valley landscape for portraits. Mountains, open fields and summer greenery created an entirely different backdrop.

I wanted these photographs to feel polished without becoming overly posed. We worked quickly and allowed movement to shape many of the images. This gave the portraits an editorial quality while keeping them relaxed.

Deer Valley also gave us incredible variety without traveling far from the celebration.

A Tented Reception at The St. Regis Deer Valley

The celebration continued at The St. Regis Deer Valley. White and green floral installations appeared throughout the property. One statement arrangement climbed the hotel staircase and transformed the space.

Guests later moved into a clear reception tent overlooking the mountains. The transparent structure allowed the surrounding landscape to remain visible throughout dinner.

Inside, long tables were layered with neutral linens, warm wood chairs and abundant white florals. Candlelight softened the tables as daylight faded across the mountains.

The design felt elevated, but it never lost its connection to Deer Valley.

Champagne, Cocktails and a Packed Dance Floor

As evening arrived, the celebration became much less formal. Signature cocktails led into dinner, speeches and a champagne tower.

After cake cutting, guests quickly filled the dance floor. These unscripted moments became some of my favorite photographs from the wedding.

There were hugs between family members and conversations across dinner tables. Later, the reception turned into a packed dance floor filled with movement and energy.

A Destination Wedding in Park City, Utah

A St. Regis Deer Valley wedding offers something rare for couples planning a destination celebration. The landscape can feel dramatic while the experience remains intimate and refined.

This wedding embraced both sides of Deer Valley beautifully. A floral-filled church ceremony brought a timeless quality to the afternoon. Mountain portraits gave the photographs a strong sense of place.

Then, a tented reception at the St. Regis carried the celebration into the evening. Together, those elements created a wedding that felt distinctly Utah without becoming defined by the setting alone.

Jaleel White Wedding in Pacific Palisades, CA

Riviera Country Club Wedding in Los Angeles

Set within the hills of Pacific Palisades, Riviera Country Club provided a private and distinctly Los Angeles setting for the wedding of actor Jaleel White and Nicoletta. Their celebration brought together family, close friends, and familiar faces from the entertainment world for an evening shaped by fashion, thoughtful design, and Old Hollywood influence.

The wedding later received national attention with a feature in People Magazine. Yet beyond the recognizable names in the room, the personal moments gave the day its character.

Nicoletta began the morning surrounded by her sisters, who also stood beside her as bridesmaids. Later, she met Jaleel in the gardens for their first look. We used the quiet grounds for portraits before joining their families. The images balanced classic composition with an editorial sensibility that felt perfectly suited to the setting.

Fashion continued that perspective. Jaleel wore a double-breasted white dinner jacket with black trousers and a black bow tie. Meanwhile, Nicoletta chose a sculpted strapless gown with a clean, timeless silhouette.

Old Hollywood Style in Pacific Palisades

For the ceremony, towering arrangements of white flowers framed the aisle and created drama without overwhelming the space. Nicoletta walked alongside her father toward Jaleel, while actor Lamorne Morris stood among Jaleel’s groomsmen.

Afterward, guests gathered on the terrace for cocktails in the late-afternoon California light. A live violinist and roaming magician entertained the crowd as drinks and hors d’oeuvres circulated.

Inside, the ballroom revealed another layer of the celebration. Tall yellow and white florals rose above the tables, while taper candles and white draping softened the room. Heartfelt speeches followed the couple’s entrance before dinner began.

Then, the evening completely changed pace.

Guests moved into a transformed after-party with a light-up dance floor and playful arcade-style entertainment. Custom cupcakes featuring childhood photographs of Jaleel and Nicoletta added a personal touch before the dance floor took over.

Celebrity Wedding Photography in Los Angeles

Photographing a celebration like this requires a balance between access and discretion. Recognizable guests aren’t the story. Instead, the relationships, fashion, atmosphere, and unexpected moments happening around them create the photographs that matter.

That balance also defines my approach to celebrity wedding photography in Los Angeles. Portraits can feel considered and editorial while documentary photographs preserve the energy of actually being there.

For couples considering a Riviera Country Club wedding, the property offers something increasingly valuable in Los Angeles: privacy. Its gardens, terraces, traditional architecture, and secluded setting allow the celebration to feel removed from the city surrounding it.

Ultimately, Jaleel and Nicoletta’s wedding moved effortlessly between quiet portraits, an emotional ceremony, golden-hour cocktails, a candlelit ballroom, and an uninhibited party.

Together, those moments tell the complete story.

A Historic Chateau Wedding in Lyon, France

An Intimate Château de Bagnols Wedding in France

Set among the vineyards of Beaujolais near Lyon, Mhica and Mehdi’s Château de Bagnols wedding was an intimate destination celebration rooted in both place and personal history. With only 26 guests, their wedding brought together the people closest to them for an experience that felt elevated yet incredibly personal. Guests traveled from beyond France to celebrate with them, including a couple who drove from their home in Switzerland.

Heartfelt First Looks and a Personal Ceremony in Lyon

The day began with a heartfelt first look between Mhica and her parents, followed by a private first look with Mehdi. These quieter moments set the tone for a wedding centered as much around relationships and emotion as its extraordinary setting.

Mhica and Mehdi then traveled into Lyon for their civil ceremony at City Hall in the arrondissement where Mehdi grew up. Choosing a location tied directly to his childhood gave their ceremony a significance that went far beyond aesthetics. The streets and architecture of Lyon also created a beautiful contrast to the French countryside that would become the setting for the rest of their celebration.

An Intimate Reception at Château de Bagnols

Following the ceremony, everyone returned to Château de Bagnols, a historic 13th-century château surrounded by the rolling vineyards and golden-stone villages of Beaujolais. Located approximately 30 minutes from Lyon, the property provided the romance and grandeur of a luxury French château wedding while still feeling intimate enough for their small guest count.

Dinner was held around one long communal table beneath the château’s dramatic central skylight. All 26 guests gathered together as candles illuminated the table and historic architecture surrounding them. Conversation and laughter carried through dinner, creating an atmosphere that felt more like an extraordinary dinner party in the French countryside than a traditional wedding reception.

That balance is what made Mhica and Mehdi’s celebration particularly memorable. An intimate wedding in France does not have to feel understated. The architecture, fashion, landscape, food, and history of a property like Château de Bagnols can provide an incredible sense of occasion while a smaller guest list keeps the experience personal.

Photographing a Luxury Destination Wedding in France

Photographing Mhica and Mehdi’s wedding meant moving naturally between editorial portraiture and documentary storytelling. The historic architecture of Lyon and Château de Bagnols provided endless opportunities for considered, fashion-forward imagery, while the intimacy of the celebration allowed me to quietly document the interactions happening around them.

From Mhica’s first look with her parents to their City Hall ceremony and candlelit dinner beneath the château’s skylight, the photographs tell the story of a wedding that felt unmistakably connected to its location and the people at its center.

For couples searching for a Château de Bagnols wedding photographer or planning an intimate luxury wedding in France, this celebration is a beautiful example of how meaningful a destination wedding can become when extraordinary surroundings are paired with a deeply personal experience.

Planning | Zillman Weddings

Photography | Alex Kravetz

Florals | Fleur De Eden

Venue | Chateau De Bagnols

Hudson Valley, New York Wedding at Valley Rock Inn

A Luxury Valley Rock Inn Wedding in New York’s Hudson Valley

For Lauren and Matt, a Valley Rock Inn wedding offered the rare opportunity to create a true destination experience without asking their guests to travel far from New York City. Based in Manhattan, the couple chose Sloatsburg, New York, for a two-day celebration surrounded by the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. With its lush gardens, historic architecture, and secluded setting, Valley Rock Inn felt distinctly removed from the city while remaining close enough for their New York guests to settle into an entire weekend of events.

The celebration began the evening before the wedding with a rehearsal dinner and welcome party, giving guests time to arrive, reconnect, and experience the property before the formality of the wedding day. For a multi-day wedding, this first evening is often what establishes the tone for everything that follows. Rather than compressing the celebration into a single day, Lauren and Matt created a weekend that unfolded naturally, allowing each event to have its own atmosphere while still feeling connected to the overall experience.

A Destination Wedding Weekend Outside New York City

One of the most compelling aspects of a wedding at Valley Rock Inn is the feeling of escape it provides despite its proximity to Manhattan. The property is located in Sloatsburg near the Hudson Valley, surrounded by thousands of acres of protected landscape. For couples planning a luxury New York wedding, that combination offers the best of both worlds: the privacy and pace of a destination wedding without requiring guests to fly across the country or overseas.

Lauren and Matt embraced that experience by designing two distinct days for their guests. The rehearsal dinner and welcome party provided a relaxed introduction to the weekend, while the following day shifted toward a much more layered celebration filled with florals, candlelight, fashion, live music, and large-scale design. Allowing the weekend to evolve this way made the wedding feel less like a single event and more like an experience created specifically for the people who had traveled to celebrate with them.

An All-White English Garden Inspired Ceremony

For the ceremony, Lauren and Matt chose a monochromatic white palette inspired by the abundance and softness of an English garden. Bountiful white florals filled the space, relying on texture, movement, and scale rather than contrasting colors to create visual interest. Against the deep greenery of Valley Rock Inn, the restrained palette felt especially striking, transforming the garden without competing with its natural surroundings.

The effect was romantic and refined while still feeling organic to the property. Rather than creating a ceremony space that felt overly structured, the floral design complemented the landscape and gave the impression that the flowers belonged there. From a photography perspective, a monochromatic palette also allows the people, fashion, emotion, and movement within a ceremony to remain prominent. The design becomes part of the environment rather than something that overwhelms it.

A Candlelit Sperry Tent Reception

Following the ceremony, the celebration transitioned beneath a Sperry tent for the wedding reception, where the scale of the design became immediately apparent. Hundreds of candles in glass hurricanes covered the tables at varying heights, creating layers of warm light throughout the tent. Expansive greenery installations traveled across the tables, while additional floral installations were suspended overhead, drawing the eye upward and transforming the canvas structure into an immersive reception space.

As daylight faded, the hundreds of candles became increasingly prominent and completely changed the atmosphere beneath the tent. The combination of candlelight, greenery, florals, and the architecture of the Sperry tent created a reception that felt intimate despite its scale. It is one of the reasons beautifully designed tented weddings can be so compelling: the structure begins almost as a blank canvas, allowing lighting, floral design, and production to create an environment that feels entirely specific to the couple.

A Luxury Hudson Valley Wedding Built Around Experience

While the ceremony was intentionally restrained in its palette, the reception embraced scale, texture, and atmosphere. Hanging floral installations brought dimension overhead, while the greenery extending across the tables connected the room below. Hundreds of glass hurricanes created varying points of light throughout the space, allowing the reception to feel warm and intimate rather than overly produced. Each design decision worked together, but none of it distracted from the reason everyone was there.

Once dinner transitioned into dancing, a live band of at least ten musicians brought an entirely different energy to the evening. The progression from a relaxed welcome celebration to a romantic garden ceremony, candlelit dinner, and packed dance floor gave the weekend a natural rhythm. For me, this is one of the most interesting parts of photographing a multi-day destination wedding. The photographs should preserve more than how the celebration looked; they should communicate how each part of the weekend actually felt.

Why Valley Rock Inn Works for a Luxury Destination Wedding

For couples considering a luxury Hudson Valley wedding, Valley Rock Inn offers something increasingly desirable: the feeling of a destination while remaining accessible from New York City. Its gardens, guest accommodations, outdoor spaces, and surrounding landscape make it possible to create several distinct experiences without repeatedly moving guests between unrelated locations. A welcome party can establish one atmosphere, the ceremony can introduce another, and a tented reception can feel like an entirely new environment while still remaining part of one cohesive weekend.

That versatility is particularly valuable for couples who want their wedding to extend beyond a traditional ceremony and reception. Hosting multiple events gives guests more time together and allows the design and experience to evolve throughout the weekend. For couples based in Manhattan, it also provides an opportunity to give friends and family a genuine escape from the city without the logistical demands typically associated with a far-flung destination wedding.

Photographing Lauren and Matt’s Valley Rock Inn Wedding

Photographing Lauren and Matt’s wedding meant balancing the scale of the design with the quieter moments happening within it. The abundance of white florals deserved to be documented, as did the hundreds of candles, suspended installations, tablescapes, and architecture of the reception tent. Those photographs establish the setting and preserve the enormous amount of thought that went into creating the weekend, but they are only one part of the story.

My approach to wedding photography combines an editorial perspective with unobtrusive documentation, particularly at celebrations where fashion and design play such an important role. I want the larger visual elements to feel intentional while still leaving room for what happens naturally between people. At a wedding this layered, that means constantly moving between the two: a wide photograph that captures the full scale of a candlelit reception followed moments later by a guest’s expression, an interaction across the table, or the energy surrounding the band. Those smaller, unscripted moments are ultimately what give the larger design its context.

Planning a Wedding at Valley Rock Inn

For couples searching for a Valley Rock Inn wedding photographer or considering a destination wedding in New York’s Hudson Valley, Lauren and Matt’s celebration is a beautiful example of what becomes possible when a wedding is approached as an entire weekend rather than a single event. Valley Rock Inn provided the framework, while the floral design, tented reception, candlelight, live music, and two days of events transformed the property into an experience that felt entirely their own.

The result was a wedding that was polished and substantial without sacrificing intimacy. More importantly, the weekend gave Lauren and Matt time with their guests beyond the traditional confines of a wedding day, creating space for everything from the anticipation of the welcome party to the energy of the final hours on the dance floor. For couples planning a multi-day wedding at Valley Rock Inn, elsewhere in the Hudson Valley, or at a destination around the world, I photograph celebrations with an editorial, timeless, and unobtrusive approach. Explore more destination weddings in my portfolio or get in touch to inquire about your wedding weekend.

A Luxury Destination Wedding at the O’Donnell House in Palm Springs

A Fashion-Forward O’Donnell House Palm Springs Wedding

Olivia and Christian’s O’Donnell House Palm Springs wedding brought New York style to one of the desert’s most historic venues. Traveling from New York, the couple invited their guests west for a destination wedding filled with fashion, personality, and thoughtful details.

Set above downtown Palm Springs, the historic O’Donnell House created an intimate setting for their celebration. The ceremony and reception unfolded al fresco, surrounded by desert views and the property’s distinctive architecture. From Olivia’s Vera Wang ceremony gown to an unforgettable Oscar de la Renta party dress, fashion remained central throughout the day.

However, the most memorable details were often the most personal. Handwritten letters greeted every guest at dinner, while emotional first looks brought quieter moments to the celebration. Later, jello shots delivered in plastic syringes signaled a very different chapter of the evening.

A Destination Wedding at the Historic O’Donnell House

Although Olivia and Christian call New York home, Palm Springs offered an entirely different setting for their wedding weekend. The desert’s architecture, landscape, and unmistakable light created a destination experience without feeling overly formal.

The historic O’Donnell House was especially fitting. Perched above Palm Springs, the property combines old California character with sweeping views across the desert. Its intimate scale also allows a wedding to feel connected from one moment to the next.

For couples considering a Palm Springs destination wedding, the venue offers something increasingly rare. It feels historic and transportive while remaining distinctly Southern California.

From Vasquez Rocks to Palm Springs

My time photographing Olivia and Christian began before their wedding weekend. I previously photographed their [engagement session at Vasquez Rocks], where the dramatic California landscape created a completely different backdrop for their photographs.

An engagement session also gives us time together before the pace of a wedding day takes over. By Palm Springs, there was already a familiarity between us. That trust allowed their wedding photography to feel relaxed, personal, and naturally editorial.

For destination couples, that connection can be especially valuable. The wedding weekend becomes a continuation of the story rather than our first time working together.

Heartfelt First Looks Before the Ceremony

Before the ceremony, Olivia shared a first look with her father. It became one of the most emotional moments of the day. Away from the larger celebration, they had a few quiet minutes together before everything began.

Shortly afterward, Olivia and Christian shared their own first look. Seeing each other privately allowed them to experience the moment without an audience. It also gave us time to create portraits while preserving the natural rhythm of the afternoon.

These quieter interactions often become some of my favorite photographs. They balance the fashion and design with the relationships that give a wedding its meaning.

A Vera Wang Bride in Palm Springs

Olivia wore Vera Wang for the ceremony, bringing a sophisticated fashion perspective to the historic desert setting. The gown felt timeless while still carrying the modern edge associated with Vera Wang’s bridal designs.

Against the O’Donnell House architecture and surrounding desert, the look felt especially striking. Rather than competing with the landscape, the simplicity and structure of the gown allowed both Olivia and the setting to stand out.

The result felt editorial without becoming overly styled. That balance defined much of the wedding day.

An Al Fresco Palm Springs Ceremony and Reception

Olivia and Christian exchanged vows during an outdoor ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends. The celebration remained outside for the reception, taking advantage of the desert setting as daylight transitioned into evening.

Al fresco weddings feel particularly natural in Palm Springs. The landscape becomes part of the design, while changing light creates an entirely different atmosphere throughout the evening.

Dinner beneath the open sky also gave the reception an intimate quality. Guests remained connected to the surroundings while celebrating together around beautifully arranged tables.

Handwritten Letters for Every Wedding Guest

One of Olivia’s most thoughtful details was waiting for guests when they arrived at their seats. She had written a personal letter for every person attending the wedding.

Guests discovered the handwritten notes as they sat down for dinner. It was an incredibly personal gesture within an otherwise highly designed setting.

Details like these make a wedding feel individual. Beautiful florals and tablescapes create atmosphere, but personal touches create connection. For Olivia and Christian, the letters became a reminder that their celebration centered around the people who traveled to experience it with them.

An Oscar de la Renta Party Dress

Later in the evening, Olivia traded her Vera Wang gown for something completely different. Her second look was a floral-inspired Oscar de la Renta party dress.

The dress immediately shifted the energy. Playful, fashion-forward, and perfect for dancing, it introduced another side of Olivia’s bridal style.

Second looks can create some of the strongest fashion moments during a wedding. They also allow a bride to move from the ceremony’s formality into the energy of the party.

For Olivia, Oscar de la Renta was the perfect transition.

Jello Shots and a Palm Springs Dance Party

Once dancing began, the celebration became considerably less formal. Guests were surprised with jello shots delivered in plastic syringes on the dance floor.

It was unexpected, irreverent, and completely fun.

The contrast was part of what made the evening memorable. A historic Palm Springs estate, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, handwritten letters, and syringe jello shots somehow belonged within the same celebration.

That combination gave the wedding personality. It felt sophisticated without taking itself too seriously.

Why the O’Donnell House Is an Iconic Palm Springs Wedding Venue

The O’Donnell House offers a distinctive setting for couples planning a destination wedding in Palm Springs. Its history and architecture separate it from the region’s more contemporary resort venues.

The property also works beautifully for couples who value an outdoor celebration. Ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing can flow naturally throughout the setting.

For fashion-forward couples, the architecture provides an equally compelling backdrop for portraits. Historic details contrast beautifully with modern bridal fashion, while the desert landscape adds a strong sense of place.

A Fashion-Forward Palm Springs Destination Wedding

Olivia and Christian created a wedding that balanced style with genuine personality. Their New York sensibility felt completely at home against the history and landscape of Palm Springs.

There were beautiful fashion moments, from Vera Wang to Oscar de la Renta. Yet there were equally meaningful ones, including Olivia’s first look with her father and handwritten letters to every guest.

That balance is what made their O’Donnell House Palm Springs wedding feel so personal. It was thoughtful without feeling overly orchestrated, fashionable without becoming performative, and elegant without losing its sense of fun.

For couples planning a destination wedding in Palm Springs, Olivia and Christian’s celebration proves that sophisticated design and a memorable party can absolutely coexist.

Coordination | The Events Department

Kona Village Rosewood Wedding

A Fashion-Forward Kona Village Rosewood Wedding on Hawaii’s Big Island

Paige and Stephen’s Kona Village Rosewood wedding unfolded across three beautiful days on Hawaii’s Big Island. Their weekend combined fashion, thoughtful hospitality, and the relaxed elegance that makes Kona so distinctive. Rather than treating the wedding as a single event, they created an immersive experience for their guests.

The celebration began with an all-white welcome party. Their wedding followed the next day, with a farewell brunch closing the weekend. Every event felt connected while maintaining its own personality. The result was a destination wedding weekend that felt elevated, personal, and completely effortless.

A Three-Day Destination Wedding at Kona Village Rosewood

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, offered an exceptional setting for the entire celebration. The property feels secluded without sacrificing refinement. Lava fields, tropical landscaping, and expansive ocean views surround the resort. Its architecture also feels deeply connected to the landscape.

That combination created endless opportunities for photographs throughout the weekend. Paige and Stephen could move naturally between events without leaving the property. Their guests could also settle into the rhythm of the island. For a multi-day Hawaii destination wedding, that experience becomes incredibly valuable.

An All-White Welcome Party on the Big Island

The weekend began with an all-white welcome celebration overlooking the Pacific. Guests arrived in crisp resort-inspired attire, creating an immediate visual connection throughout the evening. The neutral palette also worked beautifully against Hawaii’s natural colors.

Warm light moved across the property as everyone gathered for cocktails, dinner, and conversation. The evening never felt overly formal. Instead, it created the perfect introduction to the days ahead.

Welcome events are especially meaningful during destination weddings. They give guests time to reconnect before the wedding day begins. They also create another chapter within the complete photographic story.

Editorial Wedding Fashion With a Balmain Couture Moment

Fashion played an important role throughout Paige and Stephen’s wedding weekend. Paige works in client relations for Balmain, and her fashion perspective was evident in every choice. Her wedding wardrobe felt sophisticated, directional, and personal.

Later in the evening, Paige changed into her second look. Her second dress was Balmain couture, creating one of the most memorable fashion moments of the celebration. The look brought a completely different energy to the reception. It felt confident, modern, and perfectly suited to the evening.

For a fashion-forward bride, multiple wedding looks can also transform the visual story of the day. Each change creates a different mood without interrupting the celebration.

An Oceanfront Wedding at Kona Village

The wedding day embraced everything that makes the Big Island remarkable. Ocean views, volcanic textures, and warm Hawaiian light created a naturally dramatic setting. The beauty of the surroundings never needed to compete with the design. Instead, every element worked together.

Paige and Stephen remained the focus throughout the day. Their portraits felt editorial while still preserving movement and genuine emotion. The strongest photographs came from allowing moments to unfold naturally.

That balance is especially important during destination weddings. Beautiful locations matter, but the photographs should still feel deeply connected to the people within them.

Photographing the Complete Wedding Weekend

Multi-day destination weddings allow for a more complete visual narrative. The wedding ceremony is important, but it represents only one part of the experience. The quieter moments often become equally meaningful.

Conversations during the welcome dinner, spontaneous portraits, late-night celebrations, and farewell hugs all help tell the story. Photographing several days also allows couples to relax more quickly around the camera. There is no pressure to create everything within a limited wedding-day timeline.

That freedom often leads to photographs that feel more natural and personal. It also allows the final gallery to reflect the entire destination experience, rather than only the wedding day.

A Farewell Brunch to End the Celebration

Paige and Stephen concluded their weekend with a farewell brunch at Kona Village. The atmosphere was relaxed after two days of celebration. Guests gathered one final time before departing the island. It created an understated ending to a thoughtfully planned weekend.

Those final hours are particularly meaningful during destination weddings. After months of planning, the pace finally changes. The weekend becomes less about schedules and more about enjoying the people who traveled to celebrate with you.

Why Kona Village Is Ideal for a Hawaii Destination Wedding

Kona Village offers something unusual among luxury destination wedding venues. The resort feels sophisticated, yet it never feels disconnected from Hawaii. Its design, landscape, and sense of privacy create an experience that feels specific to the Big Island.

Couples can also host an entire wedding weekend without asking guests to travel between multiple locations. Welcome parties, wedding celebrations, portraits, and farewell events can all happen within the property.

For couples planning a fashion-forward Hawaii destination wedding, the resort offers an extraordinary canvas. It supports thoughtful design while allowing the surrounding landscape to remain part of the experience.

A Fashion-Forward Wedding Weekend in Hawaii

Paige and Stephen’s celebration demonstrated how personal a destination wedding can become. Their weekend combined refined fashion with relaxed island hospitality. Most importantly, it gave their guests time to experience Hawaii together.

From the white party through Paige’s Balmain couture reception look, every chapter felt intentional. Their Kona Village Rosewood wedding was not simply about one beautiful day. It was about creating an entire experience around the people, place, and moments they valued most.

Planning & Design: Bliss In Bloom
Photographer: Alex Kravetz
Videographer: Monroe Films
Venue: Kona Villa Rosewood
Lighting, Dance Floor, Chairs: Kona Event Rentals
Rentals: Island Celebrations Hawaii
Florist: Uhi Uhi Flower House
Content Creation: Art of The Moment Co
Second dress: Balmain
Bridal bag: Cult Gaia
Linen: Luxe Linen
Band: Dega Genecide
Makeup: Bad Brides Club
Hair: Korey Fitz
Signage & Paper Goods: Lively House and Home
Sound & Stage: Waimea Music
VW bus Aloha Splitty

A Fashion Forward Destination Wedding in Puerto Rico | Alexa & Woody

Puerto Rico Destination Wedding | A Fashion-Forward Celebration at Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve

Some destinations are chosen for their beauty.

Others become part of a couple’s story long before a proposal ever happens.

For Alexa and Woody, Puerto Rico had already become one of those places. They returned to the island for countless surfing trips, creating memories that shaped their relationship over the years. When they began planning their wedding, choosing Puerto Rico felt like the most natural decision they could make.

Their celebration at Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve reflected everything that makes a Puerto Rico destination wedding unforgettable. Ocean views, warm Caribbean evenings, and a thoughtfully planned wedding weekend invited guests to slow down and enjoy every moment together.

Puerto Rico also offers couples something unique. It feels like an international escape while remaining remarkably accessible for guests traveling from the mainland United States.

A Wedding Weekend Designed Like a Vacation

Rather than limiting the celebration to a single day, Alexa and Woody created an experience that unfolded naturally across the weekend.

The festivities began with a waterfront rehearsal dinner where family and friends gathered as the afternoon faded into evening. Conversations lingered over the water, introductions became friendships, and guests eased into the slower rhythm that makes destination weddings feel so different from celebrations closer to home.

Later that evening, everyone changed into white for a welcome party that immediately established the aesthetic of the weekend. Against the tropical landscape, the monochromatic palette felt understated, sophisticated, and perfectly suited to Puerto Rico’s warm evenings.

Instead of treating these events as separate occasions, each gathering became another layer of the overall story, allowing guests to feel fully connected before the wedding day had even begun.

Fashion Was Woven Into Every Moment

Fashion shaped nearly every part of this celebration.

Alexa works in the fashion industry, and her creative perspective influenced every event throughout the weekend. Instead of following trends, she built an aesthetic that felt timeless, modern, and unmistakably personal.

She wore a Danielle Frankel gown with Christian Louboutin heels for the ceremony. The pairing felt sculptural, elegant, and perfectly suited to the tropical surroundings.

Later in the day, she changed into two additional looks. Each outfit marked a new chapter of the celebration while maintaining the same refined vision.

Guests embraced that same philosophy. Relaxed tailoring, flowing silhouettes, bold color, and elevated resort wear filled the weekend with effortless style. Every detail felt intentional without appearing overly designed.

A Ceremony That Belonged to the Landscape

By late afternoon, the Caribbean sun had softened just enough to cast everything in warm, directional light.

Guests made their way beneath the palms overlooking the beach, where the ceremony embraced its surroundings rather than competing with them. There was no elaborate backdrop needed. The ocean became the backdrop, the breeze became part of the ceremony, and the sound of the water quietly filled the spaces between each vow.

Alexa’s Danielle Frankel gown moved effortlessly with the wind, creating those fleeting moments that can’t be choreographed and are often the photographs couples treasure most years later.

As she walked toward Woody, the setting felt expansive, yet the ceremony itself remained deeply intimate.

As Day Became Evening

Following the ceremony, guests lingered over cocktails outdoors while the sun settled lower across the coastline.

Rather than rushing everyone inside, the evening unfolded slowly. Conversations stretched longer than expected, champagne continued to circulate, and the atmosphere encouraged guests to simply enjoy where they were.

Destination weddings often succeed because there is nowhere else anyone needs to be.

Everyone is already there.

Dinner Beneath the Puerto Rico Sky

As daylight faded, candlelight slowly took over.

Long tables stretched beneath the open sky while layered florals and textured linens framed the evening. Rather than competing with the tropical surroundings, the design complemented them.

Guests lingered over dinner as heartfelt speeches gave way to laughter and celebration. Friends shared stories, family members embraced, and conversations continued long after the final course.

By that point, the timeline no longer mattered.

Everyone settled into the evening, allowing the photographs to become less about events and more about genuine connection.

Three Dresses Later…

By the time Alexa emerged in her third look of the evening, the celebration had taken on an entirely different energy.

The dance floor filled almost immediately, guests abandoned their seats, and what had begun as an elegant destination wedding transformed into the kind of celebration everyone hopes will never end.

Looking around, it became clear that the success of the weekend wasn’t defined by the ocean views, the fashion, or even the incredible setting.

It was defined by the feeling that every guest had become part of something deeply personal.

Planning + Design | Glamourama PR

Photography | Alex Kravetz

Hair + Makeup | Andy Sutphen

Venue | Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico

Santa Barbara Courthouse Elopement | Katie + Sam

Santa Barbara Courthouse Elopement

These lovebirds decided that COVID wasn’t going to stop them from marrying one another. So they did the most sensible thing a couple could do when in love and wanting to get married- they packed their bags and headed North for a Santa Barbara courthouse elopement. I met Katie and Sam on a warm Friday afternoon in the courthouse’s sunken garden where the ceremony would take place. Katie wore a timeless white satin dress accompanied by a fresh bouquet of all white flowers. Sam donned a linen suit in cornflower blue paired with brown leather accent pieces. After an exchange of rings and signing of the marriage license, the couple made it official with a (mask-free) kiss.

Following the ceremony, we explored the property and captured their just-married portraits. We always strive to time our portraits sessions to coincide with the last few hours of daylight. This is because those last few hours offer the best and most beautiful light of the entire day. Katie and Sam’s session certainly didn’t disappoint as they were draped in that quintessential California light. We took our time making sure to not miss any of the beautiful vignettes the property has to offer. These two not only have spectacular chemistry together but they’re also incredibly easy on the eyes. A true dream to photograph!

While we photographed we chatted about life and the challenges of buying a house during COVID. We swapped photos of our pups back at home and discussed their plans for the big wedding celebration. Even though this wasn’t their first choice of how they would have liked to have gotten married, it was beautiful. It was truly an honor to photograph this time in their lives.

Photography | Alex W Photography

Florals | Knot Just Flowers

Hair + Makeup | TEAM Hair and Makeup

Film Lab | Richard Photo Lab

Rosewood Miramar Beach Wedding | Katarina + Dominic

Rosewood Miramar Beach Wedding

I had the pleasure of photographing a gorgeous Rosewood Miramar Beach wedding earlier this year in Montecito. The Rosewood opened just over a year ago and now serves as one of Santa Barbara’s premier luxury hotels. The property boasts private villas, five-star dining, and even a trained hawk to keep stray birds away. This beautiful venue served as the backdrop for the day’s festivities.

Getting Ready

Katarina and her bridesmaids got ready in the upstairs bridal suite of the hotel. Everyone was in great spirits while the ladies of TEAM hair and makeup worked their magic. A Chinese tea ceremony was held in the morning before Katarina slipped into her wedding dress. Both families attended and gave gifts to the couple along with words of wisdom and well wishes.

Following the tea ceremony was the first look for the bride and groom. Katarina slipped into her dress with the help of her bridesmaids and Mom. She paired her outfit with a pair of sparkly Louboutin heels and a bouquet from Toast Santa Barbara. The bridesmaids all wore stunning velvet dresses from Jenny Yoo’s newest line. The couple’s dog, Teddy, was included in the big day and even donned a tux of his very own.

Ceremony

Nina Moore and her team designed the most beautiful ceremony space. The aisle was lined with cherry blossom trees and loose petals were given to guests to toss. Roses, orchids, and hydrangeas adorned the floral arch at the head of the aisle. A live artist was present on the day to paint the couple as they recessed back down the aisle and enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife.

Reception

The reception space was decorated with stunning monochromatic white and gold tones. The sweetheart table was adorned with candles and surrounded by cherry tree blossoms.

Katarina and Dominic enjoyed a sparkly cake-cutting white surrounded by all of their loved ones.

Photography | Alex W Photography

Venue | Rosewood Miramar Beach

Planning | Nina Moore

Florals | Toast Santa Barbara

Videography | The Quail and The Dove

Makeup + Hair | Team Hair and Makeup

DJ | LIV Entertainment Group

Dance Floor | RCD Dance Floors

Rentals | Bright Event Rentals

Linens | La Tavola Linen

Photo Booth | Mir Mir Photo

Omni Rancho Las Palmas Wedding | Hannah + Vaughn

Palm Springs Wedding

This Omni Rancho Las Palmas wedding is seriously something special. Not only are the bride and groom two of the sweetest people I’ve met, but their wedding day was stunning. I knew after initially photographing Hannah + Vaughn for their engagement session that these two would be so much fun on their wedding day. Their chemistry together is so natural and organic that it makes my job capturing them a breeze!

The pair chose the beautiful Rancho Las Palmas resort in Rancho Mirage to say “I do”. This stunning venue set the perfect tone and made for the most beautiful backdrop for their wedding day. I highly recommend visiting the property if you haven’t done so. The sprawling grounds are filled with lush greenery and it overlooks the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains. The pool even had a “Splashtopia” zone which Vaughn certainly made use of during his stay there.

We met Hannah in her suite on the morning of the wedding day. She was getting ready with her closet ladies even though she chose to forgo a formal bridal party. We styled and photographed her details while she received the final hair and makeup touchups. Following hair and makeup, Hannah and her closest ladies popped a bottle of champagne and toasted the bride-to-be. Afterward, Hannah opened Vaughn’s wedding day gift and enjoyed a teary-eyed read from the card he wrote her.

Ceremony

Vaughn was getting ready across the property in his own suite. Once he was suited up, we headed outside for portraits and eagerly awaited Hannah to meet us for the first look. The pair decided to forgo the traditional “tap on the shoulder” and instead stand back-to-back. They held one another’s hands and announced how excited they were to see the other. On three, they both turned and were immediately overcome with pure excitement. Soon after, all the guests joined us on the lawn for family portraits and found their seats, as the ceremony was about to begin. Hannah and Vaughn exchanged handwritten vows to one another under a wooden chuppah and celebrated their marriage by breaking the wine glass.

Cocktail Hour

Cocktail hour was held on the main lawn once the ceremony concluded. Guests dined on charcuterie boards and sipped handmade cocktails while they mingled one another. Hannah and Vaughn were chasing the sunset on the other side of the property having their portraits taken. We headed to a section of the golf course that I had scouted the day prior. Everything was going perfect until a sneaky sprinkler popped up and shot a very surprising (yet refreshing) blast of water directly to the face. I’ve never seen a bride and groom run faster on their wedding day.

We headed up to the reception space after capturing photos across the grounds. The sun was beginning to set and the light on the rooftop was just perfect. Hannah and Vaughn enjoyed the last few minutes of cocktail hour with their guests while we photographed all of the beautiful decor. The tables were adorned with golden chargers and had beautiful floral runners made up of white roses and eucalyptus. Guests were soon ushered upstairs where they were greeted with champagne and a live band. Everyone gathered around the dance floor to enjoy the first and parent dances. The dance floor opened at sunset and guests danced the night away to the undeniably talented Down Beat LA.