Tara & Stephan's Hammock Beach Resort Wedding

Hammock Beach Resort Wedding

Tara and Stephan tied the knot during their Hammock Beach Resort wedding in Palm Coast, Florida just nearby Tampa. The two envisioned a beautiful outdoor ceremony on the grand event lawn overlooking the beach, an indoor ballroom reception filled with dancing, and incorporated pops of color to create a vivacious color scheme for their big day!

A Matchmaking Coworker

Having met back in 2016, the two were never expecting to find love at work. Stephan had recently moved to Orlando for his fellowship training and was assigned in the same unit as Tara at Orlando Regional Medical Center. A matchmaking coworker saw how perfect the two would be for one another, and introduced them. Asking Tara out on a date, and many more to follow, the two fell in love with each other’s sense of humor.

Proposal in Albany, New York

About a year after dating, Stephan took a job offer back in New York in Albany. Knowing that their love was a forever love, Tara began looking for a nursing position up in Albany as well. While in Albany for a few days to look for apartments and as luck may have it for Tara go on a job interview, Stephan had also planned an event on their to do list. Wanting to take a break from the apartment search to enjoy the city, Stephan took Tara to an observation deck downtown that overlooked the entire city. Right there and then, Stephan proposed to Tara, and of course she said, “yes!”

Wedding Day at Hammock Beach Resort

There is just an indescribable aura around Tara and Stephan. From the way their friends and family were overjoyed to be with them on their big day, to how they care so deeply for those around them. Arriving a bit early to the Hammock Beach Resort, that aura could be felt from the moment we walked in. Tara had invited her tribe to join in on the getting ready fun, and of course her mom and sister helped her get ready. Once Stephan was ready for us to swing by as well, we were greeted by meeting mom, dad, twin brother, and of course our groom. The jokes – oh the jokes – both Stephan and Domenic were such a blast to photograph and were cracking us up the entire time.

Ahead of schedule after capturing Tara put on her dress and a few stunning bridal portraits, we headed down to check out our couple’s ballroom before venturing over to their ceremony site. The gorgeous ballroom was filled with pops of hot pink uplighting that matched some of the floral in Tara’s bouquet, and was almost ready to enjoy come reception time as the team finished wrapping up last minute details. I could not wait to get back in there and take a room shot of Tara and Stephan after their ceremony and formal portraits wrapped up.

Hammock Beach Resort Wedding Ceremony

Outside on the grand lawn, a gorgeous arch with a MASSIVE floral arrangement graced the front of their ceremony site. And seriously all of the floral, including the four pieces up front were show stoppers! Stephan seeing Tara for the first time as she walked down the aisle was such a beautiful moment to capture, followed by many more throughout their ceremony, which by the way was led by Tara’s dad! After exchanging rings and sealing it with a kiss, the two were officially Mr. and Mrs.

Family formals and bridal party formals also took place on the grand lawn by their ceremony location, followed by newlywed portraits on the beach. It seriously could not have been a more picturesque day as we completely lucked out with diffused lighting with steady cloud coverage above. Even more picturesque, as we began photographing newlywed portraits, a group of horses were rode by us and made for the perfect background prop.

Hammock Beach Resort Wedding Reception

Before newlywed portraits ended and our reception entrance was to begin, we headed back inside to the ballroom for the newlywed shot I had envisioned earlier that day. Introductions, formal dances, and toasts opened the night to begin and a delicious dinner to be served. It felt like the whole day flew by and we were so grateful to be a part of turning memories into timeless imagery.

A big congratulations to Tara and Stephan on tying the knot and wishing my sweethearts a beautiful life together!