Katelyn and Christopher | Barbary Beach House Wedding in Key West
They say you should never “race” into a relationship, but when Christopher first met Katelyn at a national awards banquet in Los Angeles, it was “racing” that brought them together….hydroplane racing, that is! The pair are both professionals in the sport, and quickly discovered that they loved to travel, spend time together, take walks with the dog Tingo, dancing, and of course….the thrill of a good race or two! One night, on a walk on the beach in Punta Cana, Chris asked Katelyn to marry him, and so began their journey to planning their wedding in Key West!
Press PLAY to relive the beautiful day!
The couple teamed up with Nancy Chavez (@littlemissplannerkw) from Say Yes in Key West, and scheduled a lovely beach ceremony on Smathers Beach. I met them that afternoon at the Barbary Beach Resort across the street, where we started with some detail shots in the bride’s getting-ready room, while the girls hung out and Katelyn had her hair and makeup done by Lorri Bollander of Key West Hair and Makeup.
Katelyn’s wedding ring was actually a family heirloom passed down through generations, making it all the more special. In her bouquet, she carried photos of loved ones pinned into the foliage above pretty blue angels dangling from the silk ribbon.
A little bubbly was in order as well, as the girls sported their custom button down shirts, Katelyn’s with a lovely blue monogram in the colors of the wedding.
While the girls continued their revelry, I went to check on the boys, and found Chris hanging out with his dad and groomsmen in their suite. I captured some initial detail shots of his jacket and gorgeous orchid boutonnière.
Helped by his best man, Chris got into his jacket and we captured some quick portraits as he awaited his walk down the aisle!
Back in the bride’s room, it was time to get into the dress. All the bridesmaids helped get her zipped in, the train fluffed, and the veil looking just right.
One of my favorite things to do is to get individual portraits of the bride before the day gets underway, so I used the giant window as a source of natural light, and got Katelyn looking absolutely stunning in her gown and holding her flowers.
Before we knew it, it was time to head to the ceremony! We arrived to find a lovely bamboo arch with tropical flowers, palm leaves, and a romantic sheer fabric accenting the pillars, held down neatly so that it would not billow wildly in the ocean breeze coming off the Atlantic.
All the vendors got into position, including the steel drum player, the officiant, and the wedding planner, putting the final touches on the ceremony space and overall ambiance before the processional began and the groom took his place. Chris made sure to face the water until his bride was in place to walk down the aisle with her father. They had decided to stick with tradition, and so this moment was the first time he had seen her on the wedding day!
The ceremony got underway with a few hugs, a little emotion, and a traditional exchange of vows, rings, and the love of everyone looking on and enjoying the event.
And finally, the couple embraced in their first kiss as husband and wife, and were all smiles and celebrations as they recessed back down the aisle, stopping briefly to grab a triumphant group photo with all of their guests cheering in the background.
We gathered family and friends under the arch to do group portraits, and then it was time for the bridal party to come together for some fun shots with the girls and the guys!
Once the guests were shuttled back over to the reception space across the street, it was time for the bride and groom to have a moment to themselves, and we captured some lovely portraits of the two of them on the beach, snuggling, laughing, and walking hand in hand as happy newlyweds.
Now it was time to party! We headed to the Barbary Beach Resort where the cocktail hour was underway, and the couple were greeted with the lovely decor and amenities afforded to them by this tropical beach venue.
Groups of guests were already gathered at their tables, so as I always try to do, I went around and got some impromptu “table shots”. Having been a wedding guest myself a few times, I know how much effort goes into picking the perfect outfit, doing one’s hair and makeup for the party, and just overall being present at such an event, so it’s always nice to have at least one nice photo to commemorate the day.
The wedding party and the bride and groom were then introduced in, where they could kick off the reception with a first dance. Katelyn and Chris had actually rehearsed this moment, and had a beautifully choreographed number ready to entertain the guests!
After toasts, it was time to sneak back out and over to grab sunset photos. Along with the videography team from Soundwave, Joanna Cooper and Florrence Nebbout, we found a beautiful spot near the rock jetty, and angled the shots in order to get the beautiful night sky in the background.
Once we got back to the reception, it was time to enjoy mother-son and father-daughter dances, and then the couple cut their lovely wedding cake, adorned with the flowers by Karro Events.
As the evening went on, we enjoyed the music from Jimmy Cooper with Soundwave Production, and the dance floor lit up as guests moved and grooved, made a conga line, and danced with the happy couple well into the night.
It was a beautiful day filled with joy, smiles, laughter, and a lot of fun! Congratulations to Katelyn and Christopher on your Key West wedding!
Venue: Barbary Beach House
Ceremony: Smathers Beach
Planner: Nancy Chavez | Say Yes in Key West
Invitations: Impression Ink
Hair and Makeup: Lorri Bolander | Key West Hair and Makeup
Flowers: Karro Events
Rings: Helzberg Diamonds
Dress: Stella York | Clarie’s Fashion Wilmington, DE
Cake: Publix
Entertainment: Soundwave Productions
Videography: Soundwave Productions
Photographer: Karrie Porter