Kelley + Tony: Tuskawilla Country Club
Lindsey + Joe
Venue: Luxmore Grande Estate
Planning: Brittany with I Do Details
Hair: Stella Luca Salon
Makeup: Makeover Station
Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Floral: Velvet + Twine
Paper + Signage: And Meija
Rentals: Treasury Rentals
Furniture: Rentals by RW Events
Cake: Florida Sweets Co
Band: The Buzzcatz
Ashleigh + Louis: The Springs
Ashleigh + Louis have been one of my favorite couples to photograph. They are the kind of people who show you such an outpouring of love and make you feel so valued. To the point where I felt more like a guest, a close friend, a family member than a vendor.
Both of them have such a light to them. When you are around them, you just smile.
They originally came to me in 2017 for their wedding in 2018 and then their plans got put on hold as Ashleigh faced some problems with her health and was diagnosed with MS. In early 2019 I heard from them again, the wedding plans were back in full motion! They were eager to not let Ashleigh’s diagnosis hold them back from their dream of coming husband and wife. Then, just weeks before wedding day, Louis was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and underwent surgery.
To say that these two have been through a lot would be a SEVERE understatement. But even through it all, they have remained optimistic, excited and continue to spread positivity. Im sure they’ve had their days of feeling hopeless and scared but you’d never know it. Truly the most remarkable people that have made what I do even more fulfilling. It has been a great honor to photograph them and share in their journey to becoming Mr. and Mrs. Torretta. I can’t imagine two people more deserving of such a perfect day as these two right here!
Ceremony: Annunciation Catholic Church
Reception: The Springs in Altamonte Springs
Rentals: Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals + Dishie Rentals
Floral: Flower Studio Altamonte
Calligraphy: Two Peas paper Co
Entertainment: The Sangria Truck
Kaitlyn + Ben: The Capen House
Julie + Devin: Club Lake Plantation
Julie + Devin’s Club Lake Plantation Wedding is how every wedding day should be spent. They didn’t rush the day, they savored the moments, and they made sure to tell every guest (including me) they were grateful for their attendance.
Moments throughout their day were meaningful and special. For starters, they did a first look in the cutest way possible. Devin was blindfolded and stood at the alter waiting for his bride to walk down the aisle. He always envisioned seeing his bride walk down the aisle in her wedding dress when he first saw her on his wedding day, and she wanted that intimate time before the ceremony to see each other. So they compromised with a first look in the ceremony space. It was so touching. Devin was so nervous, excited, emotional. It was the best thing to witness!
Their portraits were the best! I’ve never had a couple so comfortable and natural in front of the camera. I think it shows in the photos!
The reception was full of sentimental moments, touching speeches and pretty legit dance moves. I feel like you can tell a lot about people by their dance floor - and from the turn out on this one, I would say Julie + Devin are SO loved, and surrounded by the most genuine, fun and happy people two people could hope to be surrounded by.
Venue: Club Lake Plantation
Catering: Foodie Catering
DJ: Our DJ Rocks, DJ Jennie
Floral: In Bloom Florist
Event Coordinating and Planner: Kayla, Bella Sposa Events
Kelley + Tony: Winter Park Engagement Session
Kelley + Tony brought the fun for their engagement session in Winter Park. But did I really expect anything less with them, no? This isn’t the first time I’ve shot photos for them - I did their maternity session and newborn session and every time I fall more in love with them as a couple! They have become some of my favorite people to be around and their family means so much to me!
For our session, they dressed to the 9’s and they brought champagne (with 3 glasses….tell me they aren’t the best?!) They weren’t just popping bottles for the photos, they planned on us sipping away after our session together and we did just that! Not a bad way to end a session, am I right?
Winter Park is full of quaint, beautiful, magical nooks and crannies. Theres really no corner of park avenue that wouldn’t make the best backdrop for romantic engagement photos. We kinda just went where the wind blew us. Our original plan as of 15 minutes prior was Maitland Art Center, but when we showed up to a closed venue, we last minute decided to drive to Park Ave. Glad we did!
Caden: Newborn
Lindsey + Joe: Lake Louisa State Park
Lindsey + Joe, I say it time and time again, and I really believe it with all my heart: I HAVE THE SWEETEST AND BEST COUPLES.
Admittedly, I am pretty selective with the type of people I work with. I believe there is a photographer for every couple, and in the same regard, a client for every photographer.
My couples are laid back, sweet, kind, gentle, the coolest and funniest people on the planet. And above all, people I love being around!
The photographer/subject relationship is such an intimate experience. I follow you around with a big black box in your face through an engagement session and 8-10 hours of your wedding day. We might wanna like each other then, right?
I first met with Lindsey, sans Joe, at my local Winter Garden coffee shop called Axum. I chose it because I love their mission being a not-for-profit shop. Lindsey mentioned this also meant so much to her, and from there we just clicked.
Next January I will get to photograph these peeps at the Luxmore Grand Estate. Quite recent, I shot their engagement session out at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont. You wouldn’t know it from the photos, but we took these photos right off the parking lot which had hundreds of bikers prepping for a race. Lindsey and Joe, unfazed, rocked the session.
Here are some of their shots:
Christian + Alyssa: The Mulberry
I feel like I say it over and over again, but holy cow I always seem to get the NICEST, SWEETEST AND MOST GENUINE COUPLES. The most easy going brides and grooms who treat us like family, laugh with us and are all smiles on a day that many people feel very anxious and nervous about.
Christian + Alyssa got married at The Mulberry in New Smyrna Beach. Its the quaintest property with a reception barn, cocktail area bar off the porch, a fire pit, MULBERRY BUSHES (yes, I sang the nursery rhyme all day), tall palm trees, grand oaks, a getting ready space for the guys above the barn, and the sweetest 3 bedroom getting-ready cottage for the ladies. The property is charming, cozy and meant for a day full of love!
Thoughtful gifts were exchanged, every family member and friend was embraced and made to feel truly appreciated and ALYSSA EVEN GRABBED THE MIC FROM THE BAND LEAD SINGER AND SANG Y’ALL! It was so much fun and I am so honored to been there from putting on the dress, to cutting the cake and walking out those barn doors.
Venue: The Mulberry
HMUA: Hair by Tamra + Before The Aisle
Planning: Melanie Paige Events
Floral: Rachael Kasie Designs
Cake: For The Love of Cake
Chairs: A Chair Affair
Kirsten + TJ: Bella Collina
How would I sum up Kirsten + TJ’s wedding day? A DREAM. Not only because of the details and aesthetic, but mostly because of how badass and awesome of a couple they are.
TJ, a doctor, is full of smiles, kind words and is an undercover dance BOSS! Which is to be expected from his wife, Kirsten, who was a dancer at UCF. Both of them have the sweetest, sincerest personalities. They are the type of people I could hang around all day and never get tired of their company.
Their Bella Collina wedding was nothing short of a fairytale. They are so head over heels in love and seeing them together honestly choked me up from time to time. If there was ever a couple I would bet on lasting a lifetime together, its Dr. + Mrs. Brown.
Vendors that made this day come true:
Venue: Bella Collina @bellacollinaclub
Flowers: Lee James Floral @leejamesfloral
Coordination: Runway Events @yourrunwayevent
Gown: One + Only Bridal @oneandonlybridalboutique
DJ, Lighting + Photo Booth: Firefly Productions @fyreflyproductions
Cake: Sugar Sugar Cake Boutique www.sugarsugarcakeboutique.com
Mommy + Me Sessions
I’ve decided this year I wanted to offer Mommy + Me mini sessions for Mother’s Day. It seems like I know so many new moms, like myself. And I thought, if they are anything like me, they appreciate when someone snags a really great photo of them with their baby.
Lets face it, us moms are the ones taking care of baby, taking photos of everyone else with our baby, taking photos of just our babies…but who is taking photos of us with them? How come these babies have to speed up time, and grow up within a blink of an eye? When your a mom, time is relative, and it seems no matter how hard we try, we can’t freeze it.
Ive got the next best thing though: photos. To celebrate all the dog moms, expecting moms and mamas with little ones who change every day, I am now doing mommy and me mini sessions.
If you’re a dad and you are out there reading this, know that if you are stumped for Valentines Day or Mothers Day: this session would be a super thoughtful gift for the lady in your life. Or if you’re a mama, go on a TREAT YO SELF.
Ustina + Mena: Winter Garden Engagement
The best part about getting to shoot engagement sessions and weddings is getting to know the couple. My favorite question to ask is “how did you two meet?”.
Ustina contacted me from Sydney, Australia! Isn’t the internet a wonderful thing? That we can connect with people on the other side of the world?!
Ustina and her fiancé met in Australia while Mena was visiting on "“holiday” from Florida. However, both were born in Egypt. From there, his family moved to the US, and Ustina’s family to Australia. 25 years later, they ended up back in the same place and today they are engaged to be married! Doesn’t that just make you believe in fate?!
We had the best time getting to know each other as we shot pictures, giggled and paraded around Downtown Winter Garden (my hometown). Neither had ever been but were loving every corner of Downtown Winter Garden. It really is the cutest little city.
We ended our session in the dreamiest field. We listened to some romantic tunes and let them ca-noodle, cuddle, kiss and dance in that field to their hearts content! Im so glad I got to meet this duo and play a part in their story.
Megan + Jeremy: Bella Collina
Kelsey + Chip: The Mulberry
Courtney + Greg: Bramble Tree Estate
Life Update: 2018 Recap
Ok, so it’s been a HOT MINUTE since the Aisles + Ivy blog has been updated. And by a hot minute, over a year. Ouch.
A lot has happened and changed since the blog has been shown some love. Let me recap for you:
February 3, 2018 - I broke 3 ribs in Colorado when I was hit from behind by an oncoming snowboarder.
March 27, 2018 - Cody and I found out I was pregnant. You could say I was a little in shock since I had hardly been able to move and on bed rest for the past 6 weeks from my injury on the slopes!
9 months of pregnancy left me with little (and by little, I mean ZERO energy) The fatigue was so real. I felt like I had climbed Mt. Everest or participated in a decathalon every day. There was no motivation to do anything other than rest it seemed. So the business went on the back burner.
August 2018 - The biggest change around here that I have felt needed explaining for some time, but wasn’t sure when was a good time or how to approach it, is the new branding of Aisles and Ivy. Some of you may know, Aisles and Ivy was created by myself and my friend/business partner Mike. Mike and I were once a photography duo, but he fell in love with video and has become so talented with this new craft! We felt it made the best sense if he created his own videography brand where he could express creative freedom and flourish, while I stuck with Aisles and Ivy. We finished out our 2018 contracts and wanted to avoid any confusion by publicly announcing the redistribution of ownership in the brand. It didn’t seem necessary. But some people have asked, so this is me explaining. Mike and I still work together on weddings! Almost all couples also want video - which is where Mike comes in.
A difficult transition from this was changing the editing style slightly. Since becoming the sole operator here, editing style has changed slightly to become a hybrid of clean and vibrant, but also still contrasted, grainy with a little mood. The transition to the new style has come with its own challenges, confusion with prospective clients who were accustomed to a different style for the brand, having to re-edit past weddings to reflect the changes and running the new style by current clients as I edit their weddings the new way from then on out. Hopefully, the confusion for the most part has since died out and the brand has stabilized and returned to a sense of normalcy.
November 16, 2018 - I gave birth to my beautiful, tiny baby girl 3 weeks early!
So, I guess you could say its been quite a year of transition and navigating two new worlds: Motherhood and Business Owner.
2018 had me juggling A LOT, and sometimes it felt impossible to keep this business alive from healing ribs, getting pregnant, transitioning the brand and then giving birth and learning to be a mom to a newborn…but guess what? I FREAKING DID IT.
2019 YOU WILL BE MY YEAR. If I can go through all that, and keep this business of mine running then I have full confidence that with added focus, drive and determination, great things will come this year.
So thank you to those keeping this dream of mine alive and supporting my small little business. I cant wait to see where this next year takes me.
