Lauren and Tim Say I Do at Postcard Inn in Islamorada Florida
The Florida Keys have a way of calling to the traveler in all of us. The warm weather, friendly locals, laid-back lifestyle, and that extra breath of fresh air you can only get when it’s mixed with a little bit of salt and sunshine. When Lauren and Tim’s many travels could have taken them anywhere in the world for their wedding, they decided on Islamorada, Florida, to celebrate with friends and family at the beautiful Postcard Inn at Holiday Isle.
PRESS PLAY to relive the highlights of their day!
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The couple first met in the north end (Little Italy) in Boston, where Lauren was living at the time. She had all but given up on the city and was about to move back to the DC area, when she met Tim. The couple hit it off and their relationship grew as they enjoyed traveling and exploring different countries, going to the beach, spending time with each other’s families, playing yard games, having BBQ’s with friends, and spending the cold months binge watching their favorite shows. The two both love a good book, and they keep in shape by running.
Photo Credit: Tour guide
The Proposal
Lauren shared with me their amazing proposal story. They were picked up at their hotel in Bali at 2am to drive to the base of Mt Batur (an active volcano on Bali). They met the guide and began a 2 hour trek up the mountain at 4am to watch the sunrise behind Mount Agung. The guide cooked eggs over a steam vent from the volcano. After breakfast, Tim asked the guide to take some more sunrise pictures of them…
And then while we posing for photos taken by our Balinese guide at the top of Mount Agung, with the morning sunrise behind them, Tim got down on one knee and proposed. ❤️❤️❤️
The Wedding
It was during the planning of their Islamorada wedding that I got to know Lauren, with many conversations about location, photo ideas, family who would be attending, schedule, and all the little things that go into the planning of a destination wedding.
The theme of the wedding was an infusion of tropical colors and beach boho elegance. The bride chose gorgeous protea, orchids, and other tropical florals for her bouquet, working with Dori from Marathon Florist to get just the right look.
The details were simple and elegant, including a leather watch and sandals for the groom, cherry wood ring boxes for the best man to hold onto, and a few delightful additions like a passport and travel itinerary-style wedding invitation and save the date, as well as a custom football imprinted with the ring bearer’s name on it, and a custom football jersey as well.
The wedding gown from Ghalia Lahav was absolutely stunning, and fit the bride like she was born to wear this dress! It featured a body-hugging bodice with a lace overlay and lace train, with a sheer finish that gave it a light and classy look.
The couples’ getting-ready rooms were immediately adjacent to one another, so to keep from seeing each other, they passed necessary supplies - snacks and beverages! - back and forth from behind the wall!
While Lauren got her hair and makeup done by the talented Michele from Ciao Bella Salon, her bridesmaids helped get her shoes and jewelry together so she would be ready to get into her dress!
After the couple were ready, we scheduled a quick moment for them to see each other in a First Look. Being the middle of June, we were definitely feeling the tropical heat of summer, so we opted for a nearby scenic spot on the dock just outside their conjoined rooms. Tim waited out on the dock facing the ocean, and we documented their first look from two angles to get his expression and the overall beauty of scene.
Having a little bit of time still before ceremony, we then hopped in the car to head to the nearby Amara Cay Resort, a sister property to PostCard Inn, for more photos. I had already been to this location before, and knowing we would be short on time, I had pre-visualized the images I would capture, and so we wasted no time deciding where to go or what to shoot.
Not to be outdone, the beach at Postcard Inn also proved to be a stunning backdrop for more of the couples wedding photos. You don’t see it here, but one thing we have to be careful of in the Florida Keys is sargassum grass. It’s a bushy-looking brown sea faring weed that sometimes blows up onto the shore if the wind is just the right (or, wrong?) direction. This is where having a photographer who has a professional retouching staff comes in handy, and my team and I were able to make the unsightly seaweed take a hike from our couples portraits!
Soon it was ceremony time, and our couple took their places as everyone lined up for processional, with the help of Peggy Russell from Destination Wedding Studio, who was the planner for their event. The decor looked amazing thanks to Marathon Florist, and once everyone was seated, it was time to get married!
After the final kiss, we headed over to the beach with family and friends for formal group portraits. The ocean view made a perfect backdrop, as we tried to keep in the shade of the palm trees with a light breeze waving the fronds to and fro.
Under the great tiki hut nearby, the reception was calling our names, and it was time to party! The couple enjoyed a first dance, dances with their parents, and toasts by their best man and maid of honor.
While the guests started dinner, I had some time to make my way around the reception and grab some candids of the guests enjoying their time at the event.
After dinner, the couple enjoyed a dance with mom and dad, and the dance floor opened up for everyone to get down to the grooves of Kiss Me Entertainment with Nick Morris.
Toward the end of the evening, we then got to sneak the couple away for some additional photos on the dock and at sunset!
Friends and Family, view their full gallery HERE
Venue: Postcard Inn
Planner: Destination Wedding Studio - Peggy Russell
Photographer - Karrie Porter Photography - Karrie and Rob
Hair and Makeup: Ciao Bella - Michelle
Bridal and Bridesmaid Attire - Galia Lahav
Groom’s Attire - Ralph Lauren
Florals - Marathon Florist
Invitations - Shutterfly
Officiant - Chuck Russell
The Rings - Costco
Music - Kiss Me Entertainment - Nick Morse