Suzanne + Alex Step Into The Limelight | The Rusty Pelican | Tampa, FL

December 12, 2019

Suzanne & Alex’ Love Story

How They Met…

From Alex: May 18, 2013 is where this love story began. As I walked in nervously into what was my first day working as a Summer Camp Counselor at Hunter's Green Country Club in Tampa, all I was worried about was trying not to sweat through the only shirt they had given me to wear for the summer (do not be alarmed - soon after, I received a 2nd shirt). After walking through the front door, any shot I had at my nerves disappearing (and the sweating stopping) was gone, as I laid eyes on the most beautiful girl I had even seen. From that moment, I knew this girl was going to be someone special in my life - and when I saw her in her (mandated) one-piece bathing suit during swimming time, I knew she was the one for me. 

The Proposal…

From Alex: Soon after we officially began dating (not until summer of 2016), I knew how I was going to do it. If and when we got to that point, I was going to take her back to summer camp at Hunter's Green. Thanks to a lot of planning (with the help of my mother, Matt Hilts, and plenty of friends along the way), I was able to convince her to visit our old stomping grounds with me, to check out the renovations. As we walked towards our old camp gathering area in the back of the club, I remembered an old conversation we had about six months earlier.

SC - "You nervous?"
AW - "I don't get nervous"
SC - "What about if you ever ask me to marry you, will you be nervous then?"
AW - "No"
SC - "I'll make sure to ask you in the moment"
AW - "I'll hold you to it"

As we stopped in front of the building, I turned and looked into her eyes, she seemed confused on what was going on. I knew at that point, I had pulled it off.

AW - "Aren't you going to ask me?"
SC - "Ask you what"
AW - "If I'm nervous"

It took a couple seconds for it to click with her, but before it did, I started to go into a rehearsed speech I had prepared 1,000 times leading up to this moment. When she finally sensed what was going on, and I saw the tears starting to form, and her face lighting up - I lost it. I no longer remembered what I was going to say. I'm not entirely sure what came out the rest of the way, but all I know is it ended with pulling out a small box from my back pocket (thanks, Jake Ninko, for the wallet-looking box - highly recommended) and I was on a knee, ready to give the love of my life the only secret I've ever had to keep from her (other than birthday presents). Obviously, you know what happens next.

Ready Or Not Here They Come!

From Alex: Life is hard. That's an understatement. Life is full of ups and downs. Isn't that the truth! I always loved the song, "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette - "It's like 10,000 spoons, when all you need is a knife", definitely my favorite line in the song. Life is most certainly - ironic.

How ironic it is, that in what I consider the greatest time of my life (my journey with Suzanne), we would also each go through our most difficult moments. Life hasn't been particularly kind to us in the past couple of years, but that's how I know we were meant for each other - I knew we were made for each other. I will never be able to put into words just how much support Suzanne has shown to be throughout my pain. She's been a shoulder to cry on, the Wall (pun intended) to lean on, and my best friend to vent to. She assures me that everything is going to be alright - and I believe her. This is why I pledged to her parents (and the rest of her family) that I'll work every single day to make sure I am everything to her, that she has been to me. I know that no matter what comes our way, as long as we both support each other, we can take on the world.

Fast forward through all the tough times, we think it's time for a celebration. Through a recent move, new jobs, and all the joy of planning a wedding, I think it's time to throw a big party to show just how far we have come.

From Suzanne & Alex’ wedding blog | https://www.zola.com/wedding/suzanneandalexander   

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographer | Kara Lerchenfeld
Intern | Tara Zimmerman

Rebecca + Andrew Step Into The Limelight | Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach | Clearwater Beach, FL

July 11, 2019

Rebecca & Andrew

{Their 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 story}

Rebecca and Andrew met on a dating app of all places. Neither of them were really sure what would come from using such an app, but it quickly became the best surprise. Rebecca was a first year teacher, and Andrew was finishing his last year of school at the University of South Florida. When they first matched, the first thing Rebecca noticed was that Andrew played acoustic guitar. He complimented her right away on her eyes, and they quickly realized that they had the same sense of humor and that they both wanted to travel to the same places one day. They eventually agreed to grab dinner and drinks so that they could meet each other in person. The night of the first date, it was raining extremely hard outside. Rebecca has never been a big fan of driving, let alone in such nasty weather, and considered asking if they could reschedule for another day. The rain was also making her run a few minutes late, and she was so relieved and put at ease when Andrew called to say that he was going to be a little late as well (anyone who knows the couple knows that they still have this in common!). Rebecca walked into the bar first, drenched from the rain, and Andrew walked in just a moment later with a sweet smile on his face. The rest is history!

{The Proposal}

Andrew had recently returned from a two week trip to Australia & New Zealand that he went on for work. The couple had been wanting to go to one of their favorite restaurants on Clearwater Beach, and finally made plans to go one Saturday evening after a day of running errands. One of their favorite things to do is to walk the beach together, so they decided to take a stroll before getting dinner. Andrew seemed unusually upset about the fact that it had turned into a cloudy and windy evening, and Rebecca figured he just needed to eat (Andrew loves his food!). After a bit of walking, he asked Rebecca if she wanted a picture by the water and asked a woman who was sitting with her husband and children if she would mind taking one. At this point, Rebecca was definitely suspicious, because Andrew is not one to initiate a photo-op! He put his arm around her for a picture, and then suddenly took Rebecca's hands and started saying ALL the sweet things! The woman taking their picture was so surprised and excited to see Andrew get down on one knee, and the couple was otherwise alone on a quiet and secluded part of the beach. Their absolute favorite part of this story, is that after she said YES and they got a few pictures together- the gloomy clouds simply disappeared, revealing the most beautiful sunset that either of them had ever seen. Andrew and Rebecca got to sit in the sand and watch the sun go down together before sharing the news with their close friends and family. They went on a long cruise the following week where they were able to celebrate just the two of them ❤️

{story written by the bride Rebecca}

Lead Photographer | Dafne Spencer
Associate Photographer | Kara Lerchenfeld

Stephanie + Jeff Step Into The Limelight | Marina Cantina | Clearwater Beach, FL

July 2, 2019

Stephanie + Jeff met at work in 2010. They started off as friends but couldn’t deny that they had a considerable amount of chemistry. After some time, they decided to take their friendship and develop it into a relationship. Stephanie was nervous at first because she is a “package deal.” It wasn’t just Stephanie that Jeff needed to win over, Jeff needed to win over her son Alex as well. Stephanie was so happy that Jeff was accepting of Alex and has become the most amazing father for him.

Stephanie + Jeff enjoy each others sharp sense of humor and love how they balance one another out. Jeff knows how to make Stephanie laugh and he always knows how to calm her down when she is stressed or feeling down. Likewise, Jeff loves how Stephanie can always pick him up when he is having a rough day. They love traveling together, cooking, eating, projects around the house, and watching “their shows.”

Jeff proposed to Stephanie in Chicago on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building. They just finished their meal at The Signature Room when the fireworks display began, at the same time as the fireworks the staff came and brought Stephanie her favorite dessert (Creme Brûlée) and on the plate it said, “Will you Marry Me?”

When deciding where to have their wedding Jeff and Stephanie knew it had to be in Florida. They both have a lot of amazing childhood memories here and it is a place both of them hold very near and dear to their hearts. Jeff and Stephanie came to Clearwater two years ago on vacation and absolutely loved it, they thought it would capture their laid back fun energy perfectly!

Congratulations on becoming husband and wife Stephanie + Jeff!

Lead Photographer | Stephanie Duffany
Associate Photographer | Audrey Clifford

LeeAnna + Ryan Step Into The Limelight | St. Petersburg Yacht Club | St. Petersburg, FL

January 16, 2019

Ryan and LeeAnna’s Love Story:

It all began in 2007. Ryan worked as a manager at the local Block Buster in Northeast Shopping Center. LeeAnna would drive over and rent movies and would call Ryan “Best Friend.” Ryan likes to refer to LeeAnna as a “stalker”.

In an unrelated circumstance, Ryan transferred stores with his new job being in south side St. Pete near Eckerd College…and at the same time LeeAnna left to start college in North Carolina. Years later in 2010, when LeeAnna’s brother Bob was a Residence Assistant at Eckerd College, he befriended an employee at Block Buster. His Block Buster friend asked if his Block Buster Manager, Ryan, could hang out with them. They took to each other quickly and Bob and Ryan became fast friends so much so that Bob decided to invite Ryan over for a feast at his family’s house.

As dinner progressed, polite conversation ensued. When Bob and LeeAnna’s parents asked what Ryan did for a living, he said “Manager at Block Buster.” Jaw drop…look of surprise…”Are you THE Ryan?!?”

“Yes?” at this point Ryan isn’t quite sure what he might be guilty of. Amongst the shock they had to explain to him that Bob’s younger sister, LeeAnna is the one who used to call him “Best Friend.” LeeAnna, too, was away at Campbell University, so it was just a “small world” encounter.

LeeAnna came home for Spring Break in 2011 and was visiting Bob at Eckerd when she became reacquainted with Ryan. As young adults, they seemed to hit it off and began a relationship.

Full stop…screech…LeeAnna was only home a week!

So LeeAnna being LeeAnna, said, “I love you?” off handed as a response to accidentally elbowing Ryan.

After a family dinner outing, while sitting in LeeAnna’s parent’s family room, LeeAnna went into her bedroom on the other side of the wall from where Ryan was sitting on the couch and sent him a text message…breaking up with him only to return moments later and sit back on the couch right next to Ryan like nothing had happened... awkward! Basically, I am going back to college, so peace out.

The good thing is Bob and Ryan remained very good friends and their relationship blossomed and grew.

In May of 2012, Bob and LeeAnna were graduating from college and needed a roommate for their newly built home. Well, Ryan was the perfect choice. Everyone got along great and the awkwardness quickly dissipated. Bob and Ryan were on one side of the house and LeeAnna had the master bedroom all to herself! They all became so close that at one point LeeAnna would introduce Ryan as her other brother.

They began acting like siblings (or a couple), arguing, appreciating each other, helping each other, disagreeing, fighting, hurting each other’s feelings, and relying on each other.

Oh and in the meantime, dating other people, a lot of other people, pushing back on others when they suggested they should date. They were going to hockey games together, playing board games together, Ryan joining on family vacations, and even being there on Christmas mornings, Ryan was always watching out for LeeAnna and making sure she was safe if she drank two, er, too much.

It was noticeable to everyone except them that they had become each other’s significant other. Even family that wasn’t around all the time would notice the obvious. Family members and neighbors would suggest to LeeAnna to date Ryan but her response was always the same, “Ryan is the perfect guy, like really perfect, just not for me.”

In the late summer of 2015, LeeAnna moved out of the house and into her Papa’s house alone and the boy’s had their house to themselves. LeeAnna started to realize how prevalent Ryan was in her life as they still continued to do things together, but now they weren’t together all of the time under the same roof. LeeAnna and Ryan began looking at each other a bit differently, but still, oblivious to what was right in front of them.

All the while, their affection was growing, undenounced to them…STILL. (hockey games, helping pack up MeMaw, movies, Disney trips, wrapping Christmas presents, teasing each other, cleaning together, coming to each other’s rescue).

Just after ringing in the New Year of 2016, LeeAnna and Ryan felt it was time to discuss the “elephant in the room”…24 hours later, Ryan said, “Are we doing this?” to which LeeAnna responded, “Yes?” and that began their Happily Ever After!

Knowing how much LeeAnna loves Jelly Rolls at Disney’s Boardwalk, he set the stage for a New Year’s Eve Proposal on December 31st, 2017. He pulled it off and she was so surprised!

On LeeAnna + Ryan’s wedding day you could see the excitement in everyones faces as they got to celebrate their union, just as everyone noticed all along…LeeAnna + Ryan were made for one another!

Congratulations LeeAnna + Ryan, I am excited to see what the future has in store for you!

Lead Photographer | Stephanie Duffany
Associate Photographer | Audrey Clifford

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