Heather and Steven wanted their friends and family to have a unique experience at their destination wedding. They chose to have their beach ceremony at Flor de Cabrera, in Dominican Republic, a villa where everyone could stay in one big house and celebrate together for a long weekend (Flor also donates their profits to charity, which was important to the couple). They put on a big bonfire the night before the wedding and invited a native cigar roller and local merengue dancers!

…plus a few at the end from their day-after session

Jackie and Michael are a classic love story. They are both from New York, but met for the first time in San Diego, on the beach, 3000 miles from their respective homes. After spending a few inseparable years together in San Diego, they decided to make a cross country road trip back to New York and be closer to their families. But Jackie didn’t know Michael had a surprise proposal prepared at their destination, and he documented their entire epic journey. (Michael is a documentarian at heart, and now runs an incredible cinematic wedding film endeavor, Michael Justin Films.)

Jackie and Michael knew they had to have their wedding on the beach. Michael spent his childhood summers in Montauk, and Gurney’s Inn felt like the perfect fit. Michael spent two days gathering driftwood from the beach they would get married on and built a beautiful arch altar. The whole wedding was filled with thoughtful details. After learning they are durable flowers that last a long time, Jackie chose to incorporate orchids into the reception centerpieces to represent the endurance of their marriage. On Michael’s final trip to San Diego, he snapped photos of all their favorite landmarks and hangouts, and made reception table signs for each location. They both wrote their own vows. And during the ceremony they mixed sand collected from the areas they each grew up in.

Audrey, Josh, and Tropical Storm Lee.

Jen is a talented makeup artist in Dallas (you may recognize her blue locks from Autumn and Chris’s Wedding in Natchitoches), and she asked us to capture some memories of her pup Sasha. Though you’d never know from seeing her energy and spirit in person, Sasha was recently diagnosed with cancer. Jen’s dad, one of Sasha’s very best friends, came to visit as well.

And one from Asif’s Pithi the night before…

There’s a unique romanticism to getting married by yourselves at the courthouse… especially in a criminal courtroom. We stopped by Laura and Justin’s condo in Dallas, and then followed them down to the Frank Crowley Courts Building.