Andi and Reid | Banyan Tree Resort and First Flight Brewery Wedding
When Andi and Reid both took jobs at the same company in Atlanta, they did not know that it would lead to each other, but as luck would have it, they hit it off, kicking off a relationship that would lead eventually to a destination wedding in Key West, Florida!
Press “PLAY” To Watch the SLIDESHOW below!
The couple would later share with me that they came to appreciate each other in different ways…Reid for his outgoing, social nature who never meets a stranger, and Andi for her bubbly personality, sense of fun, and being generally the life of the party. Together, they share a love for their Golden Retriever “Goose”, who gets most of their time and attention when they’re not busy working. Weekends you find them grilling out with friends over for bonfires and cocktails, or riding bikes, working out, and watching college football in the fall.
The wedding day in Key West started out at the Banyan Tree Resort, where the family have been vacationing for many years. It’s a beautiful historic location, known for its…well….Banyan Trees! There are several on the property, and they provide not only much-needed shade in the Key West climate, but also serve the lovely natural surroundings as you walk around the location.
I started out the day by heading up to Andi’s room, where she was almost done getting ready. I had a few minutes before she was scheduled to see Reid for the first time, so I grabbed some candids of everyone putting the final touches on hair, makeup, flowers, and attire.
Once the bride was in her dress, it was time to take some portraits of her by herself. The room was bustling with activity, but we rearranged some furniture and found some pretty window light to have her show off her gorgeous dress and breathtaking flower bouquet.
Meanwhile, downstairs, the groom was busy getting his final touches on before the First Look. His mom helped him with his boutonniere, and we took a few minutes to grab some portraits of him by himself while we waited for Andi to make her way down.
Using the soaring Banyan tree as a perfect hiding spot, we got Reid into position, and Andi came around the corner to tap him on the shoulder. We kept a slight distance to give them a minute to see each other, taking some photos throughout, getting a fun “thumbs up” response from Reid when he saw his beautiful bride. :D
Once the couple had enjoyed a moment together, the bridal party came out to join us!
After that, it was important to the couple that we go ahead and get all the family group photos done before the ceremony. This way, they could not only get the family photos in front of the Banyan Tree - something that would have been difficult to do once we had moved over to the ceremony venue - but it also meant they could enjoy their party with their guests!
While the family headed over to First Flight Brewery for their “pre-ceremony cocktail hour”, Reid and Andi hung back with me so we could capture some photos of just the two of them. The lush foliage and soaring branches of the banyan trees made for a unique backdrop as the two took a breather before their big moment.
Finally the big moment had arrived, and it was time to head over to the ceremony. With only a short distance to go, the couple walked hand in hand toward the First Flight Brewery, where the bride tucked in to a small room to wait for it to start, and the groom went out to greet guests and help everyone get seated.
The decor was an infusion of island life meets southern hospitality. The family has a history in cotton farming, so the little white poufs were found throughout the site as a reminder of this heritage. Seafood labeled cards atop coral themed place holders incorporated a Key West vibe to it as well.
As the music started, the bridal party got into position and made their way down the aisle toward the ceremony. The flower girl and ring bearer were adorable, setting the stage for the bride as she prepared to make her way to the altar.
The ceremony began, with Aaron Wechter, a Key West wedding officiant, presiding. The couple exchanged vows, rings, and had all their guests smiling from ear to ear as they said “I do”.
With the final proceedings complete, the celebrant pronounced them husband and wife, and the couple kissed for the first time as Mr and Mrs!
The team at First Flight had champagne at the ready, and the family enjoyed a toast delivered by family members, along with a blessing of the food and the event.
With the drinks flowing and guests making way to their seats, we had a few more minutes to sneak out for photos, so I took the couple across the street to the nearby Truman Annex neighborhood, as well as outside the venue, where the couple snuggled up against the white picket fence and enjoyed each other’s company, finally married after having met that fateful day in Atlanta nearly 9 years earlier.
Back at the reception, the Oyster bar, cheese boards, and signature cocktails were a big hit, as well as the portrait of “Goose”, who could not be at the wedding in person, but was nonetheless part of the day.
The Maid of Honor, Best Man, Reid’s mom, and even the Junior Bridesmaid all got up and gave heart warming toasts to the couple. The ring bearer even tried to come over to contribute his thoughts into the microphone, but he kept his speech short. :D
As dinner was being prepared, I made my way around the tables to get impromptu couples shots of the guests attending. This is something I have always loved to do ever since my own wedding, when I realized the time flies by so fast, you hardly have time to spend with every single guest, so it’s nice to have a photo of them enjoying themselves.
Andi and Reid then took the dance floor to have their first dance. Everyone looked on and swayed to the music, happy for the couple that this moment had come together so beautifully.
The night would go on for several more hours, but before departing, we rounded up everyone in attendance onto the deck, and I caught a fun final shot of the couple with everyone who had joined them in Key West for this momentous celebration. It was a great ending to a perfect day!
Friends and Family, view their full gallery HERE
Special thanks to the vendors who helped make it happen!
Officiant: Aaron Wechter
Ceremony Venue: First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery
Reception Venue: First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery
Hair and Makeup: Dawn DeVries
Key West Photographer: Karrie Porter
Bridal Shop: Vera Wang/ Shaffers
Groom’s Attire: Timmy’s Tuxedo
Flowers: Love in Bloom
Rings: Shane Company
DJ: Chris Thomas Music
Cake: Key West Cakes