Brittany & Karsten’s Traditional Coastal Florida Wedding | Treasure Coast wedding photographer

Nov 20, 2020

I am so excited to share this beautiful, traditional coastal Florida wedding with you! Brittany and Karsten’s intimate celebration was more than five years in the making. Family and close friends joined them at St. Lucie Catholic Church to share in their joy as they became husband and wife. I am so blessed they chose me to capture their big day!

Brittany and Karsten’s story

These two first met in 2015 when they moved into the same apartment building in Lisle, Illinois. Although Karsten remembers meeting her at an apartment meet-and-greet, Brittany was so stressed about moving, she didn’t recall meeting him until the next time they crossed paths at a local bar. For Karsten, the connection was instant. As they hung out more and more, he shared his feelings for her after a ski trip with friends. Brittany initially turned him down! It wasn’t until Valentine’s Day of 2016 that Brittany realized her own feelings for Karsten, when he sent a thoughtful bouquet of flowers even though he was out of town.

Since that day, the two have been enjoying life together. Their careers have moved them to Chicago, and then eventually to Pittsburgh. One day, while walking down one of their favorite hiking trails, Karsten got down on one knee in front of a gorgeous waterfall and asked Brittany to marry him. Brittany quickly said “yes,” and the rest is history!

A sentimental wedding day

The choices Brittany and Karsten made for their wedding day were so intentional, sentimental, and rooted in family and tradition. They showed their deep appreciation for the family and friends who supported and loved them, as well as their thoughtfulness and love for one another.

Brittany spent the morning of her wedding getting ready in her childhood home with friends and family. I photographed her rings on her piano, a special gift which was given to her by the Make A Wish foundation as a child. Beside me, her wedding gown hung from the mantle of her parent’s home, and a portrait of Brittany wearing her mom’s wedding dress hung on the wall nearby. These sentimental details of the day are critical to the story of their wedding and give you just a taste of the emotions the family was experiencing.

After some sweet first looks with family members at the church and tearful congratulatory hugs, it was time for the ceremony. Brittany and Karsten chose to have a traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Lucie Catholic Church, a gorgeous sanctuary with stone accents, stained glass, and lots of light.

The reception at the Mansion at Tuckahoe

After the ceremony and some family portraits, we made a quick stop by the beach for some portraits of the newlyweds, then we were off to the Mansion at Tuckahoe for their reception where Brittany surprised everyone – including Karsten – by writing a song to sing to him instead of the first dance song they had selected together. How sweet!

These are some of my favorite photos of the moments I witnessed throughout Brittany and Karsten’s wedding day. Please enjoy this joyful, traditional Florida wedding!