Destination Wedding Photography | Courtney & Bob's Sanibel Island Wedding

groom dips bride for a portrait on the beach at a destination wedding in Sanibel Island, FL

Posted by Natalie •

Courtney and Bob's gorgeous Sanibel Island wedding had Matt and I rethinking our decision to be based in Philadelphia. Then we realized that the thermometer was pushing 90 degrees before noon in early May, and decided we'd settle for being destination wedding photographers every now and then.

In all seriousness though, we were so honored and excited when this Philadelphia couple asked us to tag along for their destination wedding in one of the most beautiful parts of Florida last spring.  Courtney and her family have rented a home in neighboring Captiva for years, so the location had the feeling of home, except with lush greenery and pure white sand leading to the ocean. Everything looked like a postcard, and having a sweet couple that could just not stop smiling at each other didn't hurt either!

They kicked everything off with a first look on the beach at Captiva before heading over to Sanibel Island for their ceremony on the beach at Casa Ybel Resort. After the ceremony we took a few more wedding portraits on the beach and among the palm trees before joining the wedding guests inside for the reception.

Another bonus for the wedding was the opportunity to catch up with our first couple of 2012, Zack and Nikki, who is Bob's cousin. We always love having the opportunity to catch up with a couple after their wedding. It was just a wonderful day from start to finish, and you'll never find us hesitating to ditch the snowy northeast for any tropical destination weddings!

Courtney & Bob,  It was such a pleasure getting to know you guys and being part of the exclusive crowd witnessing your beautiful wedding.  Thank you so much for bringing us along for the experience! hanger with bride's name, pink purse and pearls, mermaid wedding gown and sandals for beach weddingdetail photos of bride and groom's wedding rings with pearl bracelettropical colored wedding bouquet, palm trees, wedding rings in seashell, wedding invitation with lime green ribbonblack & white photos of bride getting make-up applied and detail shot of curled hairbride puts on a birdcage veil to go with her mermaid gown for a destination wedding in Sanibel Islandmother watches as bride gets ready, bride checks out the finished look in a hand mirrormother and maid of honor help bride into mermaid wedding gown and pearl necklace.Bride wears a strapless mermaid gown with rusching and chapel length traingroom puts on shirt and tiecrab cufflinks and groom's mother affixes bright orange boutonniere on gray suitgroom takes limo to first look on beach in Captiva, Floridabride and maid of honor hold coral-colored paper parasolsgroom waits on the beach at Captiva for a first look with bridebride and maid of honor follow a path to the beach for first look at Sanibel Island destination wedding

This is probably the most beautiful setting we've ever had for a first look. 

perfect blue sky and puffy clouds for a first look at Captiva for a destination wedding in Sanibel Islandwhite sand, turquoise ocean and a beautiful bride and groom at beach first look

Even the path to the beach was gorgeous.

bride and groom kiss on sandy path through green vegetation at florida weddingbride in a birdcage veil smiles after first look in Sanibel Island, FloridaGroom in gray suit and bride in mermaid gown for beach wedding in Sanibel Island, FLbride and groom on dock in bay in Captiva, FLbride and groom kiss under a coral parasol on the dock leading to the bay off Captiva Island

sea grape leaves and starfish decorate path to beach wedding in South Florida

bride and her father walk down beach path to destination wedding in South Floridaa destination wedding on the beach behind Casa Ybel Resort in Sanibel Island, FLbride and groom kiss among palm trees at Casa Ybel Resort in Sanibel Island, FLvintage-styled portrait of bride in birdcage veil and strapless dress kissing groom in gray suit on the beachsandcastles on the beach with bride & groom in the background

I love when we're obviously taking portraits and someone just ambles into the photo.

a beach walker passes by bride and groom in Sanibel Island, Floridabride and groom hold hands in a hammock, groom's crab cufflinksdestination wedding photography at Casa Ybel Resort on Sanibel Islandgroom tries to escape on golf cartcrab and lobster cake topper, white wedding cake with orchids, candy buffet and tropical colored centerpieces at Casa Ybel wedding receptiongroom carries bride into wedding receptionbride and groom's first dance at Casa Ybel wedding reception in Sanibel Island, FL

Our future competition?  This little guy was using a camera, iPhone and iPad at once to take photos.