KARISSA + ANDREW STEP INTO THE LIMELIGHT | HILTON CLEARWATER BEACH RESORT & SPA | CLEARWATER BEACH, FL

Karissa + Andrew met in Dekalb, IL in May of 2011. One of Karissa’s best friends, Miraynda had been dating one of Andrews best friends, Eddie. Miraynda and Eddie decided that they wanted to play matchmaker and through a party one weekend while Andrew was visiting. The next day after the party, Karissa realized she had left her camera in Eddie’s room (yes, she had a separate cell phone and camera). When Karissa got the camera back later that day it was full of pictures of Andrew and all his friends. Andrew and Karissa instantly became friends after that night and started dating about six months later.

How he proposed: Andrew planned a nice dinner and then drinks with a couple of friends to celebrate Karissa passing one of her CPA exams. To get from dinner to the bar where they were meeting their friends, they had to walk past Buckingham Fountain. Andrew stopped Karissa at the beautifully lit fountain with the city skyline as the backdrop and proposed to her. Karissa was completely surprised and totally over the moon! The proposal was everything she ever dreamed of. After the proposal, they left to meet up with all of their best friends and they celebrated all night long!

When deciding where to have their wedding Karissa couldn’t picture having it anywhere other than Clearwater, FL. She had spent a lot of her childhood vacationing in the Clearwater/Dunedin/Tampa area and it is one of her most favorite places! Karissa and Andrew’s wedding was a fusion of Jewish traditions and non-traditions, it was romantic, beachy, and fun as they were so so so happy to be surrounded by all of their loved ones.

Congratulations on becoming husband and wife Karissa + Andrew!

Lead Photographer | Tara Zimmerman
Associate Photographer | Emma Hintz