Stephanie and Mark Featured in the Limelight | Tampa Palms Country Club | Tampa, FL Wedding Photographer

Stephanie and Mark were an amazing couple to work with for their beautiful wedding day at the Tampa Palms Country Club! The couple was surrounded by their closest family and friends to share their vows and celebrate their love. The newlyweds chose natural hand-made details, shades of green, and lovebirds to accent their big day. They even had a beautiful dove release at the end of their ceremony! I instantly felt this couple's love and it was a true pleasure to capture the special moments of their wedding day.

I absolutely adore the story of the couple's journey to the altar as it is very similar to my own! This type of love story doesn't happen to often anymore so I just had to share! Congratulations to the newlyweds!

"Mark and Steph believe that they were always destined to be together, and think it was inevitable that one day they would meet and fall in love. Lucky for them, they got an early start on their love when they met at a summer BBQ in 2001. Steph was just sixteen and Mark was seventeen. That’s right - they've been together for 11 years and are "high school sweethearts". They were together for their senior year of high school and still enjoy memories of being together at their proms. After high school, they decided to stay together through college even though Mark was in Cincinnati and Steph was in Buffalo. It wasn't easy at times, but they made it work as a long distance couple through all 4 years in college. They decided to move to Florida together after college in search of warmer weather and better career opportunities. Mark and Steph both love Florida and take advantage of the warm weather by enjoying the beaches, playing tennis together and relaxing at the pool. They feel lucky to live in such a beautiful place but of course miss their families. After living together off and on for 6 years, the day finally came on September 29, 2012 when Mark proposed to Steph and they will finally be getting married. Most people are shocked when they find out how long they have dated and wonder why it took so long for them to get married, but for them it was all about taking the time to grow up and learn together. They are looking forward to the wedding and having so many special people together in Tampa with them on their wedding day! "

Lead Photographer | Natalia Fontes

Associate Photographer | PJ Ricketts