Brianna and Brandon gathered with over 100 members of their friends and family in the Caribbean this weekend for their destination wedding adventure! Guests made their way from around the US to spend the week alongside them sipping pina coladas and celebrating the soon to be newlyweds.

It’s uncommon for a couple to have so many people travel for a destination wedding, yet nobody was shocked by their turnout. This pair is loved by many. A guest at our table shared that he and his wife had met Bri while she was working in Florida. Even though their interactions were brief, he felt the impact of her good heart and loving personality. He wasn’t the only guest to speak so highly of the two throughout the week. Each person we met was overjoyed to be able to celebrate the coming together of two truly good hearted people. Bri and Brandon greeted everyone with and abundance of gratitude for their presence. They made sure that all felt truly welcome. Brianna’s Dad, Scott said it best in his toast, “everyone who is here today is here because you belong.”

Saying your vows in the Caribbean has some serious perks. For starters, the two got to celebrate with their loved ones for more than just one night! Guests began arriving as early as Sunday which left them an entire week to enjoy the all inclusive resort and catch up with their favorite duo. The wedding party soaked up all of the sunshine, and spent most of their days hanging out poolside or joining in on different resort activities. I even caught some of them in a water aerobics class! By Thursday, everyone had arrived and we gathered together for a welcome party. The cocktails were endless, and so was the fun.

Their Destination Wedding

Even though Jamaica is still North of the equator, it gets HOT. By the time the party started getting ready, the temperature had already reached well above 80 degrees with 70% humidity and a slight chance of rain in the forecast. Thankful for the sunshine and gorgeous color, we carried on doing our best to keep everyone cool indoors. Details and posed portraits were not as much of a priority to these two, as capturing the emotion and fun of the day was. Knowing this, we opted for not one, but THREE first looks to start the morning off. One with Brandon and his mom, then Bri and her dad, and finally the two together.

It might be because we have a son, but one thing I often note during weddings is how little time moms get with their sons. They occasionally will walk down the aisle together, but otherwise are usually limited to a first dance. When Brandon opted to share some special time with his mom, it melted my heart. He took the time to help her get her jewelry on, and be truly present with her in the moment.

Meanwhile, Bri and her mom had their own time to be present with one another as they finished getting ready upstairs. I encouraged them to take a moment on the balcony to soak it all in together, before heading off to meet Scott. Everyone was in tears as she made her way down the grand staircase to give dad one last hug. Before he even saw her, he had already begun crying. As his only baby, Bri holds a very special place in his heart.

Last, we prepped Brandon to meet his bride outside. He was beaming with joy and was so excited to see her that he didn’t care how hot or humid it was. All that mattered in that moment was her. They embraced, their parents cried, and we all felt the love and energy of the moment. The two couldn’t stop smiling and giggling while holding hands and realizing that their day was finally happening.

With 30 minutes left until the ceremony, Bri needed to get back in the air conditioning to cool down, and Brandon needed to wrangle his guys. We made our way down to the beach to begin capturing the arrival of guests, and the gorgeous waterfront set up.

The Ceremony

Just as the forecast had predicted, there was a slight drizzle of rain. Barely enough to notice, but certainly enough for good luck! The wind picked up and the weather cooled, as guests settled into their seats. Bri made her way down the aisle, barefoot, hooked tightly to Scott’s arm. Brandon stepped forward with tears in his eyes, and everyone leaned in closer. Bri’s uncle performed a beautiful ceremony that complimented the pair well- sweet, heartfelt, and sentimental. My favorite moments were the little ones that happened in those 15 minutes. The laughs, the small hand squeezes, and the feeling of overwhelming support from everyone in those seats. Sometimes in a marriage you have to lean on your community, and these two are blessed with a solid one for that.

They sealed it all with an extra long kiss that sent everyone into a roaring cheer (both because of how happy they were, and also because they knew that an epic party was next)! With cocktails served right on the beach, and a killer playlist crafted by Bri herself the fun continued even throughout family photos.

When formals wrapped up, guests laughed and watched as we captured some fun wedding party photos as the sun dipped below us. We knew they weren’t interested in a lot of portraits, but we made sure to carve out a few minutes to take a handful of just the two of them before they were whisked off to their rooftop reception. When they asked if they could take one with the two of us and our little guy Beau, my heart swelled. We mean it when we say it, our clients feel like family to us. Asking for that photo meant they felt it too.

The Reception

After cocktail hour, guests were escorted further down the property to a beautiful reception space. With string lights over head, and tables filled with candles it felt like something out of a movie. The buffet took up the entire width of the rooftop, and they had fully staffed bars on either side of their DJ to make sure the party continued. The wedding party had everyone laughing with their lively grand entrance, and when the DJ played Celine Dion everyone joined in.

Brandon surprised everyone by inviting his grams up for a first dance. He shared with me later in that evening that when they first considered a destination wedding, his only condition was that it had to be okay for his Grandma to make the trip. Grateful that she could attend, the newlyweds celebrated with an unforgettable evening. Waiters served drinks on top of their heads, guests feasted on local dishes like ox tail and jerk pork, and indulged in sushi and a chocolate fountain.

It’s now Tuesday and my cheeks are still sore from smiling, my stomach from laughing, and my throat from cheering on this sweet pair. To the new Mr. and Mrs. Boeselager, we cannot thank you enough for inviting us along on your destination wedding adventure. We feel so lucky to know you, and to have spent so much time around the people you love most. You are such a compliment to one another, and we are so excited to witness all of the joy you create together.

Much love to you both,

Paige and Dave