Rachel + Timothy Step Into The Limelight | Marco Beach Ocean Resort | Marco Island, FL

March 31, 2020

Rachel and Tim met on March 30th, 2013 at a cousin’s going away party. Tim was brought, unannounced, to a family gathering by a friend of his. He met Rachel’s mother first and Rachel’s mother asked Tim if she’d like to meet her daughter which he replied “ Yes Please.” This was definitely love at first sight - how sweet of Tim!

After a bit of time passes, the two grow a beautiful relationship and while on a trip for Rachel’s birthday to Maui Hawaii which they explored together, Tim popped the question and she said YES!

Rachel says “He is breathtakingly handsome and calls me his Bellissima which means beautiful girl in Italian, arresting all of each others attention. I look back at the first time our paths crossed, his eyes and mine, the moment we locked gazes, I knew he was special. Now I can’t wait to breathe him in, everyday. We give each other reasons to be alive, to live, to love and be loved.”

Fast forward to their wedding day, this same love and affection to each other was radiating! This beautiful couple got married at Marco Beach Ocean Resort on the beach. Their friend and family from far and near gathered to witness love at its finest. The ceremony was so pretty and the two were so happy to be pronounced husband and wife. This joyfulness followed through to the rest of the day and night and what an opportunity it was to witness and capture. Congratulations to this gorgeous couple!!!

Lead Photographer | Carlos Rello
Associate Photographer | Alexa Rodriguez

Liz + Joe Step Into The Limelight | Marco Beach Ocean Resort | Marco Island, FL

November 13, 2019

Joe planned a surprise trip to Disney World were he made plans to propose during dinner in Cinderellas’ Castle. Obviously, to keep it a surprise, Joe told Liz that he had made dinner reservations at Epcot. While walking around the park Liz kept reminding Joe that it was getting close to dinner time and they needed to make their way to the exit of the park. Instead of leaving, Joe continued to take his time and as it was getting closer and closer to dinner time Liz kept getting more concerned. Joe continued to ignore Liz’s desire to be on time and she started to get grumpy because she was starving. That is when Joe then told her that they were going to have dinner in Cinderellas Castle, Liz then got mad because she knew he planned this trip just a few short weeks prior and knew there was no way he got reservations for the Castle! Liz started to walk away when Joe went up to the hostess. She then overheard the hostess say that their reservation would be ready in a few minutes! Liz couldn’t believe it or even describe the excitement that was playing in her head...when they got to their table he ordered a nice bottle of champagne and Liz automatically got suspicious. Something big was about to happen! They ate the most lovely dinner and when dessert came out it was a plate covered by a glass dome. Under the glass dome was red rose petals with a glass slipper. Joe got down on one knee and had the ring in a special rose ring holder and asked Liz to marry him! The whole restaurant went silent, you could hear a pin drop. As soon as Liz said yes a man yelled "she said yes!” And everyone started cheering.

Liz’s engagement ring was Joe's grandmothers 40th wedding anniversary gift. Joe and his grandfather (that has passed) picked this ring out together when Joe was 12 years old! Liz’s father passed when she was 8 years old. Her dad had a gold ring that was very special to him and Joe will be using that ring for his wedding band.

Joe and Liz’s wedding date and location has a special meaning for them because on October 27, 1985...34 years ago was the day that Liz’s mom and dad got married. Since Liz’s dad had passed away when she was younger she wanted to pick a special day that included him. When Joe's mom asked what Liz was thinking for where to have the wedding, Liz automatically told her destination and that she would like to have it in Marco Island. Joe and Liz went back and forth on where they wanted it in Marco. When they went to Marco Beach Ocean Resort they knew almost instantly that it was ‘the place.’ Marco is also a special place for Joe's family; when Joe's grandfather got diagnosed with ALS he moved there to live out one of his dreams. When Joe’s grandfather was first looking at places on the island he had stayed at Marco Beach Ocean Resort. When they stay here they say they feel his presence.

Congratulations Liz and Joe on the best day ever!

Lead Photographer | Stephanie Duffany
Associate Photographer | Audrey Clifford

Jessie + Mike Step Into The Limelight | Marco Beach Ocean Resort | Marco Beach, FL

May 22, 2019

One sunny day at the NYC Medical Examiner’s Morgue….(2012) Two bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 4th year medical students shared a cadaver, but little did they know, they were soon to be co-interns in general surgery at NYU. Mike was smitten almost immediately… Jessie required a little more convincing. But after two years of battling in the trenches of residency together and becoming close friends, Mike (while subtly fending off other suitors) finally worked up the courage and held her hand… under the table, at a bar. It was a little weird. Yet here we are, nearly 4 years later, happily engaged and very much in love. Mike has come to appreciate Jessie's passion for burn-your-face-off spicy food and Jessie has watched all of the Star Wars films (Episodes I-VIII, but not in that order).

Jessie’s dad, Dingwei, was very ill, very suddenly, with pancreatic cancer and hospitalized at NYU Langone Medical Center where both Jessie and Mike work. While Mike had been saving up for a big ring, given these circumstances, he decided to push up the timeline. He secretly got a pearl ring that he knew Jessie loved, snuck into the hospital to get Dingwei’s blessing in secret and showed him the ring. He then found Jessie at home on the couch and proposed on one knee in their apartment. They then immediately called Mike’s parents before running into the hospital to share the moment with Dingwei and Liya (Jessie’s Mom). On September 8, 2017, when Mike surprised her in their little NYC apartment living room with the ring of her dreams, the only answer was, “Yes!” They had planned to get married in an intimate backyard ceremony in Princeton NJ 9/16/18, however given Dingwei’s untimely death, they postponed the wedding.

Jessie and Michael love everything about each other. They are a team. Jessie says: “Mike is super smart, compassionate to his patients, extremely nerdy and funny, the right kind of weird, is the heart of every party, quick to smile, effortlessly charming to a fault. Makes me laugh. Knows my strengths and weaknesses and loves them all. Supports me in difficult times without hesitation.” Mike says: “Jessie is beautiful, brilliant and talented. Her smile is infectious and she lights up every room. She is kind and caring and a devoutly loyal friend. Loving her has made me a better man. She’s also my kind of weird.”

Together they enjoy cooking, exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in NYC, traveling and going to Marco Island. Their destination beach wedding was filled with some Marco magic where friends, family and loved ones gathered to relax and have a good time away from the hustle and bustle of NYC.

They fell in love with Marco Island after a couple vacations there. Luckily it is also a popular destination for Mike’s extended family over the years. 5/4/19 wasn’t the original date, but became the date that worked for the majority of the family. Mike is also a HUGE Star Wars fan, and was thrilled to have the date fall on “May the Fourth…” which generated their wedding hashtag #Maythe4thBeWithYu Noteably… this was NOT a Star Wars-themed wedding BUT Mike did still try to sneak in some hints of it. Their wedding was simple, modern and timeless. “A little bit of NYC in Marco! Jessie changed into a Chinese traditional dress and outfit right before the afterparty (Shanghai Speak Easy theme).

The private first look was romantic and genuine. Michael an Jessie loved the aesthetic of the arches/driveway as well as the wooden boardwalk out to the beach for the ceremony. A very special note of importance is that the officiant is Jessie’s jewish grandmother/godmother. A soloist performed a beautiful singing performance. And they had a small Chinese portion of the ceremony and exchanged wine that was a gift from Jessie’s dad Dingwei. They are a fun-loving, warm couple who threw a great party and danced with their friends and family in celebration of starting a new chapter of their lives together. After all guests mingled on the beach for cocktail hour they danced the night away with loved ones. Intimate, Festive, Romantic, Laid-back, Modern but classy

Lead Photographers | Michael + Rebecca Zoumberos