Chelsea and Steve tied the knot during their Courtyard at Lake Lucerne wedding in the heart of downtown Orlando. The historic I. W. Phillips House where they said their “I do’s” was the perfect backdrop for their vintage wedding vibe.
Chelsea and Steve’s story began by fate, when they happen to meet in passing while on vacation through a mutual friend. The two added one another on Facebook after meeting, but didn’t really think of much of the encounter or that they would see one another again. One night, while up late online, the two chatted it up on Facebook and were in complete shock of how much they had in common with the number one thing being Disney. Chelsea at the time was working at Disney during her college program, and after getting to know one another online invited Steve our from Nebraska to come to the parks with her and to get to know one another better. Their amazing time together was filled with dressing up like characters from the movie “Up” and staying up late to watch their favorite Disney movies. Keeping in contact they finally made it official and not long after Chelsea moved to Nebraska. Their leap of faith was truly a leap of fate.
From singing Chelsea’s favorite Frank Sinatra songs to his abundance of patience, Steve won Chelsea’s heart with his kindness. As Chelsea describes how Steve makes her feel, “he feels like home.” For Steve, it is Chelsea’s empathy and compassion for others that drew him in and made him fall in love. Truly, as he lovingly says, “I can’t think of someone that I’d rather want to spend a lifetime with.”
Disney has always been a special place for Steve and Chelsea. It was the magic of Disney that the two connected over and at Disney’s Polynesian Resort where they shared a first kiss in a hammock on the beach. Steve knew he wanted to incorporate their special moment from when they first began falling in love in his proposal and during a trip to Mexico was ready to ‘pop the question.’ Wandering along the beach at the resort, the two ‘stumbled’ along a few hammocks while looking for the perfect spot to watch the sunrise. As the sun came up, Chelsea turned to Steve to find him down on one knee. Asking her to marry him, Chelsea of course said “yes!” To this day Chelsea still thinks the hammocks might have been a little bit planned, but truly, it was a total coincidence – at least per Steve!
Their vision of their wedding day was to be reunited with their friends and family who traveled all over the world from Australia to Nebraska to share in being a part of such a special moment in my couple’s lives. Our day started off with meeting up with Chelsea and Steve for getting ready pictures in the historic home. It felt as though the interior of the home was decorated just for them, as hints of purple and deep hues of mauve and maroon matched their wedding day décor.
A first look out on the balcony with their friends and family witnessing was the perfect way to kick off the wedding festivities and the perfect moment to see one another for the first time before their formal portraits with family and the big moment – their ceremony!
Pops of purple, white, and green filled the ceremony from white resin chairs to floral gracing the arch of the porch and fountain in front of our soon to be newlyweds as they shared their vows. A first kiss sealed the deal and we were off for newlywed portraits along the tropical walkways along the side of the home. I absolutely loved the intimacy of their ceremony and every guest had the perfect view in such a beautiful location.
Dancing and dinner soon ensued underneath the market lighting out on the patio, along with some pretty neat character drawings inside. While we had a blast capturing everyone getting silly on the dance floor, I just adore the finishing moments of a sparkler send off with Chelsea and Steve waving goodbye from the second floor balcony to their family and friends.
Wishing these two a beautiful life together filled with adventure and to always remember to “enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.” –Up, the movie
Venue: The Courtyard at Lake Lucerne
Videography: Corner House Photography
Coordinator: Dylan Yacks
Caterer: John Michael Events
Makeup & Hair: Hair Due Over
Florist: The Flower Lady
Cake: It’s Tasty Too!
DJ: Your Orlando DJ
Officiant: Always and Forever Ceremonies
