Elizabeth and Eugene | The Reach Resort

When Eugene and Elizabeth met for the first time, celebrating with a first date at the National Whitewater Center, they knew there was something about each other that they loved. With a mutual love of outdoor activities, running, cycling, hiking, yoga, camping, their relationship grew. Even with quiet days spent at home reading or doing home improvement projects, being together was what mattered. Their love of travel and trying new things meant no day would be boring, and is no doubt what led them to choose a destination like Key West for their wedding day!

Press PLAY to relive the beautiful day!

I met up with the couple that afternoon at the Reach Resort in Key West, where they and their children were all getting ready. Unlike most couples who choose to be separate the day of their wedding, this bride and groom wanted to spend the morning together. This meant Eugene could help the flower girls put on their shoes, and Elizabeth could get the perfect pin into the boutonniere on the groom’s jacket.

With the kiddos helping with everything from zipping up the wedding dress, to helping lace up the bride’s shoes, they made quick work of being prepared for the big day ahead. We also got to sneak in some sweet portraits with the little ones, and capture some portraits of the couple while they were fresh faced and ready to get the day started.

Soon it was time to head down to the ceremony, where the stunning overlook provided by the gazebo at the Reach Resort was a breathtaking sight as the guests filed in to be seated. With a light seabreeze drifting in off the Atlantic, the music started to play and the ceremony processional began.

Sharing their love for each other, professing their vows, and making their promises before their guests, the couple also sealed their nuptials with a ceremonial tying of a red string. The tradition is to symbolize two people connected by destiny, regardless of place, time, or circumstance. It’s a bond that may stretch vast distances, and tangle into an unwieldy mess at times, but the bond is there forever, never breaking and therefore connecting the two partners for life.

At the end the couple were pronounced husband and wife by the officiant Aaron Wechter, and sealed their love with a kiss before heading back down the aisle, celebrating with smiles and cheers from everyone in attendance!

Gathering the family together for portraits, we made quick work of ensuring everyone on the couple’s wish list were pulled together for a photo with the newlyweds but also could get to the cocktail hour promptly, which was set up on the upper deck of the hotel overlooking the courtyard.

After the guests made their way to start the festivities, the couple joined me and my assistant Leanna for some celebratory couples photos on the beach. After all, what’s a Key West wedding without a little bit of sand between your toes and a little salt air blowing through your hair!?

We then headed to the reception where the guests were excited to see the happy couple join them for the rest of the evening. With DJ Scott Gerke at the helm, everyone enjoyed a series of uplifting tunes that set the tone for the happy occasion, while the bride and groom meandered about, meeting and greeting their family and friends, I kept an eye on the festivities and captured moments as they unfolded, from the opening of the buffet line with its succulent pork roast and colorful sides, to the dances of the couple as they entered the event lawn, to the joyous expressions of Eugene’s mom and Elizabeth’s dad as they did a turn around the dance floor, it was overall an evening full of love and laughter.

The evening wrapped up with lots of action on the dance floor, and the evident love of the couple as we captured some stunning sunset portraits on the rooftop deck of the Treach hotel, and on the beach as the glow of the evening dipped below the horizon, spilling a cacophony of bright colors into the sky, and making a perfect backdrop for the end of the evening!

Congratulations Elizabeth and Eugene! Wishing you many happy years and a lifelong of continued adventures and memories!

SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO THESE AMAZING WEDDING VENDORS, WHO MADE THIS DAY POSSIBLE!

Planner: Jennifer Perez ⎮ Simply You Weddings

Venue: The Reach Resort

Hair and Makeup: Studio Marie-Pierre

Florist: Milan Event Florals

Invitations: Paper Source

Dress: Off the Rack

Groom’s Attire: J Crew

Rings: Tiffany and Costco

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids

Cake: Publix