LOCATIONS:
Getting Ready Location: Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort
Wedding and Reception Location: West Shore Yacht Club, Tampa, Florida
Introduction:
Christine and Jon’s West Shore Yacht Club wedding had everything – clear skies, a dramatic storm front and lots of love. Originally from Philadelphia, they both now call Tampa home, although many of their wedding guests had made the long trip south to be part of their special day.
Christine wanted something really relaxed at the waterfront and they’d selected the West Shore Yacht Club, partly because they offered a taco and fajita bar that perfectly suited the laid-back atmosphere they desired. While a storm front swept through (and momentarily resulted in a power outage), the rain quickly subsided and it allowed us to capture some really dramatic photos.
Getting ready photos at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort:
The day all began at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort where the bride and groom were getting ready in separate suites. We grabbed some casual black and white shots of Jon making his final preparations and reading a note card from his wife-to-be, as well as a relaxed portrait on his balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
We then went to capture Christine and her bridesmaids as they were getting ready, with the help of the talented makeup artist, Lucrecia, and hairstylist, Jeanne. We documented the bride as she admired her gorgeous gown by Essence of Australia and grabbed a black and white candid of the chaos as the girls made their final preparations. Once the bride was ready to go, we captured some beautiful close-up portraits of Christine looking absolutely radiant.
Although the wedding day schedule was running a bit late, we grabbed some portraits of Christine on her balcony at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort and in the dimly-lit hallway, as well as a shot as her bridesmaids embrace her warmly. A mirror in the hallway allowed us to get creative with a reflective shot while the orange lights above were perfect for a silhouette portrait.
A black and white candid shot of the bride having her makeup done by Lucrecia in a suite at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
A candid shot of Jon reading a note card from Christine at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
A candid black and white shot of Jon fixing his cufflinks as he prepared for his Tampa wedding.
A casual portrait of Jon standing on a balcony at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
A black and white shot of Christine admiring her wedding dress in a suite at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
Looking across Christine's suite towards her wedding dress while getting ready at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
A close-up portrait of Christine with her makeup by Lucrecia as she prepared for the Tampa wedding.
Christine looking radiant in black and white as she was getting ready at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
A candid shot of Christine securing her earrings as she prepared for her wedding in Tampa.
Christine looking beautiful with her floral bouquet at her Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort wedding accommodation.
Christine looking out across Clearwater Beach and the Gulf of Mexico from her hotel balcony.
The bride being embraced by her bridesmaids in an elegant hallway at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
A creative black and white portrait of Christine looking out a hallway window at the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
A silhouette portrait of Christine beneath the orange lamps of a Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort hallway.
A creative, reflective portrait of the bride during her Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort weding portrait session.
Wedding ceremony photos at West Shore Yacht Club:
It was then time for the wedding ceremony to get underway at the West Shore Yacht Club, with Christine and Jon saying “I do” in the presence of around 120 of their closest family and friends. We captured a wide-angle looking across the outdoor wedding ceremony venue and a black and white candid of their first kiss, followed by romantic portraits of the couple around the leafy grounds of the West Shore Yacht Club.
A black and white shot looking across the couple's wedding ceremony venue at the West Shore Yacht Club.
Capturing the first kiss between Christine and Jon during their wedding ceremony at the West Shore Yacht Club.
Jon dips Christine during their wedding portrait session at the West Shore Yacht Club.
Christine surrounded by her beautiful bridesmaids in their pale blue dresses at the West Shore Yacht Club.
Portraits at the West Shore Yacht Club:
In addition to capturing portraits of Christine with her bridesmaids in their pale blue dresses, we also grabbed a group shot as the couple kissed and their bridal party celebrated. The heavy, dark clouds of a storm then swept across the sky, which we utilized in a dramatic portrait of Christine and Jon standing at the end of the West Shore Yacht Club jetty.
After a bit of drama with a power outage and heavy rains, things subsided and we were able to continue our wedding portrait session at the West Shore Yacht Club. We grabbed intimate black and whites of the newly weds embracing, as well as a creative off-camera flash shot of them standing beneath the Christmas lights.
Christine's bridesmaids lean in to embrace her during their West Shore Yacht Club wedding portrait session.
A creative black and white shot of Christine and her bridesmaids walking through the West Shore Yacht Club.
Christine and Jon kiss while their bridal party celebrate at the West Shore Yacht Club.
A dramatic portrait of the couple kissing while a storm passes through at the West Shore Yacht Club.
A romantic nighttime portrait of Christine and Jon kissing at the West Shore Yacht Club in Tampa.
An off-camera flash nighttime portrait of the couple kissing between the columns of the West Shore Yacht Club.
A playful portrait of Christine and Jon making their grand reception entrance at the West Shore Yacht Club.
Capturing a romantic couple portrait of Christine and Jon outside the elegant Tampa wedding venue - the West Shore Yacht Club.
Reception photos at the West Shore Yacht Club:
Christine and Jon then made a playful grand entrance to their reception at the West Shore Yacht Club (referencing the Philadelphia Eagles) before a night of celebration as they danced with family and friends under the stars. We documented their cake cutting ceremony and some details shots of their wedding invitations, together with a fun shot of them in a Tinder frame (referencing the way they had met online).
The night ended with a grand sparkler exit from the West Shore Yacht Club before Christine and Jon jumped in their romantic trolley to head back to the Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort.
Christine and Jon perform their first dance under the stars at the West Shore Yacht Club.
Capturing an intimate black and white portrait of the newlyweds during their West Shore Yacht Club wedding photo session.
A creative shot of Christine and Jon beneath the Christmas lights during their West Shore Yacht Club reception.
Looking across the swimming pool of the West Shore Yacht Club during Christine and Jon's wedding reception.
Guests enjoying the outdoor dance floor during the West Shore Yacht Club wedding reception.
Christine and Jon kiss during their cake-cutting ceremony at the West Shore Yacht Club.
Christine and Jon reference how they met on Tinder during the West Shore Yacht Club wedding reception.
A details shot of the guest invitations to Christine and Jon's West Shore Yacht Club wedding.
Christine and Jon enjoying the dance floor during their West Shore Yacht Club reception.
An action shot of wedding guests letting loose on the outdoor dance floor at the West Shore Yacht Club.
A romantic portrait of the newly weds kissing in the trolley as they left their West Shore Yacht Club wedding.
Jon dips Christine during their grand sparkler exit from the West Shore Yacht Club wedding reception.
Conclusion:
We loved capturing Christine and Jon’s wedding celebrations at the West Shore Yacht Club and the opportunity to work with wedding planner Amy Winkleman and DJ Anthony Schiavone from Tampa Party Starters. We wish them all the best as they embark on this new chapter together and everything that life brings their way.
Wedding Planner: Amy Winkleman
Wedding Ceremony Location: West Shore Yacht Club
Reception Location: West Shore Yacht Club
Hotel and Accommodations: Getting Ready pictures: Wyndham Clearwater Beach Resort
Cake Artist: Gigi’s cupcakes
Cosmetician Make up: Lucrecia
Hair Stylists: Jeanne
Florists: Publix