Grand Plaza Hotel – St Pete Beach – Eesha and Idyrs
Wedding Location: Grand Plaza Hotel
Introduction:
Eesha and Idyrs were planning a vibrant cultural wedding at the Grand Plaza Hotel, which is located in the Florida resort city of St. Pete Beach. The bride was honoring her Indian heritage by wearing a gorgeous traditional dress made by Mohsin Naveed Ranjha while saying “I do” overlooking the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
As they didn’t have an e-session, the couple also wanted to do a portrait session the day after their wedding to capture a few shots in this loved-up moment. All in all, it was a wonderful weekend with a really fun-loving couple and we’re excited to share some of the highlights of the day.
Getting ready photos at the Grand Plaza Hotel
We began the day photographing the couple as they prepared in separate suites, with five groomsmen and three bridesmaids joining them. Aside from documenting Eesha as she had the final touches applied to her makeup by Lea Montes, we also grabbed a black and white as her mom helped to secure her earrings in the eclectic Glam Room of the Grand Plaza Hotel.
In Idrys’ suite, we captured some reflective shots as he prepared in front of a mirror, as well as a black and white silhouette looking out across the buildings of St. Pete Beach. It was then time for his first look session with Eesha on a boardwalk backing the beach, followed by some shots of the bride looking radiant in her stunning dress.

A close-up shot of Eesha having the final touches applied to her makeup while getting ready in the Glam Room at St. Pete Beach's Grand Plaza Hotel.

A creative shot of Eesha getting ready for her glamorous Indian wedding at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

A reflective shot of Idrys getting ready for his wedding day in a suite mirror at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

A reflective black and white shot of Idrys getting ready for his cultural wedding at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

A silhouette black and white shot of Idrys preparing for his wedding in a suite at the Grand Plaza Hotel overlooking St. Pete Beach.

A black and white shot of Eesha's mom helping to secure her earrings as they prepared for the Indian wedding in St. Pete Beach.

A close-up portrait of Eesha wearing her traditional Indian wedding attire in the lead up to her Grand Plaza Hotel ceremony.

Eesha looking stunning in her traditional Indian wedding dress in the stunning Glam Room at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

Capturing Eesha's reaction during her first look session with Idrys in the gardens of the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

A black and white shot capturing Idrys' reaction during his first look session with Eesha at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Florida.

Eesha looking stunning in her traditional Indian wedding attire while holding a beautiful bouquet from Eve's Florist.

A black and white portrait of Eesha holding her gorgeous bouquet from Eve's Florist at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

Eesha holding her Eve's Florist bouquet on a boardwalk overlooking the sands of St. Pete Beach at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

A black and white shot of Eesha and Idrys walking along a boardwalk during their St. Pete Beach wedding portrait session.

The newlyweds embrace in the lush gardens of the Grand Plaza Hotel during their St. Pete Beach wedding portrait session.
Wedding ceremony photos at Grand Plaza Hotel
Eesha and Idrys held their ceremony on the sands of St. Pete Beach, with their Imam overseeing the proceedings. We captured a candid shot as the ring bearer (without the rings!) made his way down the aisle, as well as getting a wide-angle shot looking across the palm-fringed setting. After exchanging rings in front of their closest family and friends, the couple was officially pronounced “husband and wife”.

A details shot of Eesha and Idrys' wedding sign for their beachfront ceremony at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

A candid shot of a cute ringbearer (without the rings) being escorted down the aisle during the beach wedding at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

A wide-angle shot of Eesha and Idrys' cultural beach wedding on the sands of the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete.

A candid shot of Idrys placing a ring on Eesha's finger during their beach wedding ceremony at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

Eesha puts a ring on Idyrs' finger while holding her beautiful bouquet from Eve's Florist during their Grand Plaza Hotel wedding ceremony.

A portrait of Eesha and her bridesmaids framed by a rustic arch on the sands of St. Pete Beach in Florida.
Post-Ceremony portraits at the Grand Plaza Hotel
Before the ceremony was due to start, we used the time available for some portraits of the newlyweds in the lush gardens of the Grand Plaza Hotel and walking hand-in-hand along the boardwalk. In true beach wedding style, we also captured a “jumping shot” of the bridal party and a portrait of Eesha and her bridesmaids backed by the rustic bridal arch.

Capturing an intimate moment between the newly-married couple during their wedding portrait session at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

Eesha and Idrys share a laugh during their romantic wedding portrait session at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

The newlyweds bow their heads together during their beachfront wedding portraits session at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Florida.

A romantic portrait of Eesha and Idrys backed by the post-sunset sky during their Grand Plaza Hotel wedding photo session.

An off-camera flash portrait of the couple during their sunset wedding photo session in the sand dunes of St. Pete Beach.

An up-close portrait of Eesha and Idrys embracing during their post-sunset wedding portrait session at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

A full-length portrait of the couple standing in the dunes of St. Pete Beach during their Indian wedding photo session.
Reception photos at the Grand Plaza Hotel
After making their grand entrance into the wedding reception at the Grand Plaza Hotel, Eesha and Idrys launched into their first dance. This was followed by the cake cutting ceremony, complete with a traditional “knife dance”, and speeches from the best man and maid of honor.
As the guests hit the dance floor to celebrate, we snuck out with Eesha and Idrys for some romantic portraits incorporating the dramatic post-sunset sky. We used our off-camera flash to illuminate them as they stood in the dunes backing the beach, as well as capturing a nighttime shot with the Grand Plaza Hotel rising behind them.

Eesha and Idrys make their grand entrance into the reception at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

A black and white shot capturing the newlyweds first dance during their wedding reception at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

Eesha and Idrys laugh during a speech at their wedding reception in a light-filled room of St. Pete Beach's Grand Plaza Hotel.

The newlyweds listen to a speech from the best man while seated at their sweetheart table during the Grand Plaza Hotel wedding reception.

Capturing a special moment between the newlyweds during their wedding reception at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

An Indian woman dances during Eesha and Idrys' cultural wedding celebrations at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach.

An elevated shot of Idrys enjoying the dance floor with his groomsmen during the lively wedding reception at the Grand Plaza Hotel.

Idrys spins Eesha during their Indian wedding reception at the Grand Plaza Hotel in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
Portraits in Fort De Soto Park:
On the morning after their wedding, we met up again with Eesha and Idrys for a short portrait session in Fort De Soto Park, with the bride wearing a soft pink dress and the groom with a matching tie. The colors worked in perfectly with the blue skies above and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico as the couple embraced and looked lovingly into one another’s eyes. We also utilized a concrete seawall for a slightly industrial aesthetic, with just a few clouds punctuating the sky above.

Capturing an intimate moment between the newly-married couple during their portrait session in St. Pete Beach.

The newlyweds embrace overlooking the Gulf of Mexico during their portrait session in St. Pete Beach.

A black and white portrait of the couple on the rocky coastline of St. Pete Beach in Fort De Soto Park.

Eesha and Idrys stand on a concrete sea wall during their post-wedding portrait session in Fort De Soto Parkl.
Conclusion
It was such a privilege to be a part of Eesha and Idrys’ cultural wedding at the Grand Plaza Hotel and to capture their portrait session in Fort De Soto Park. We hope they had an amazing time in the Bahamas for their honeymoon and wish them all the happiness with whatever the future holds.
Wedding Ceremony Location: Grand Plaza Hotel
Reception Location: Grand Plaza Hotel
Florists: Eve’s Florist
Cake Artist: Sweet Divas
Wedding Planner: Katie Shepherd
DJ: Jeff Staples Group
Videographer: SkyHelm
More Weddings
Monika Logan Pictures
Monika and LoganSarasota, FloridaWEDDING PICS HEREPHOTO BOOTH HEREContact
Legacy Lane Wedding – Bridget & Anthony
Legacy Lane Wedding - Brooksville, Florida - Bridget & Anthony Getting Ready Location: Legacy Lane Weddings Wedding and Reception Location: Legacy Lane WeddingsIntroduction: Bridget and Anthony’s ranch-style wedding at Legacy Lane was our first time shooting at...
Powel Crosley Estate Wedding – Monika and Logan
Powel Crosley Estate - Sarasota, FL - Monika & Logan Getting Ready Location: Powel Crosley Estate Wedding and Reception Location: Powel Crosley EstateIntroduction: Hailing from California, Monika and Logan were planning their special day at one of our favorite...