Written and Photographed by Roy

St. Patrick Catholic Church | Miami Beach Wedding  |  Epic Hotel Miami

Imagine it’s your one year dating anniversary and your boyfriend has a special weekend planned. First you have dinner at a favorite restaurant. You’re greeted with red roses, heart shaped confetti and a  specially printed menu that reads, “Happy Anniversary”.  So he’s doing pretty good on the romance scale but you still don’t see what’s coming. This is what Antonio (TJ) had planned for Anacristina (Ani).

After dinner, TJ had made arrangements to take Ani to a wonderful upscale beach hotel for a romantic, relaxing weekend. “When we arrived at the room, TJ let me in first and when he put the lights on all I saw were rose petals leading to the bedroom. On the bed spelled out with what I thought was like 1000 chocolate kisses was, “ANI WILL YOU MARRY ME?”

“I was in complete SHOCK! TJ held my hand and turned me around to face him, he was on one knee with my beautiful ring in his hand and  asked, “WILL YOU?” and I said, “YES!” like 1000 times and kissed him like a 1000 times.”

That moment was followed with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries and created an amazing start to the perfect weekend. I would say that TJ rocked the proposal!

Enjoy the beautiful slide show of their engagement session by clicking on the play button below:

Ani and TJ will be getting married at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Miami Beach. This is one of my favorite churches to photograph weddings at. To see more weddings that we have photographed there click: St Patrick Weddings. Their reception will be held at the Epic Hotel. I can’t wait!

A little note from Ani:  “The pictures are gorgeous and we couldn’t be happier!”

I so enjoy creating great engagement portraits during this special time in each couples lives. It gives me an opportunity to get to know each couple in a wonderful way and makes for some amazing images for “Save the Date” cards, guest books and gift portraits for parents and family.

Engaged? I think it’s time you gave me a call to see what wonderful images I can create for you!

Have a great day!

Roy~ Contact Me

Photographed by Ricardo | Written by Roy

Coral Gables Congregational Ceremony | Biltmore Hotel Miami Wedding Reception

Did you know that in Norway, if a man and a woman spot a ladybug at the same time, there will be a romance between them? I think that when Carolyn gave Mike ladybug cuff links, she may have had this very thought in mind.

And romance there was at their fairy tale wedding, which took place at the wonderfully romantic Coral Gables Congregational Church.

A joyous moment, happily married and seeing all those smiling faces as they leave the altar.

Ricardo had many opportunities to capture all of the emotion and love at this wedding. Just like this image – now, that’s  hug!

Truly, Carolyn is a princess as she shares a very wonderful first dance with her prince. Love that dress!

A Few Details: Wedding Venue: Coral Gables Congregational Church; Reception: Biltmore Hotel Miami; Wedding Cake: Todo Dulces; Music: DJ Ubi

Enjoy their beautiful slide show by clicking on the play button below:

Now go with your boyfriend into the gardens and together find a ladybug. Once he proposes, give me a call!

Roy~ Contact me

Coral Gables Congregational Church | Comber Hall

You ever live a moment and later reflect back on that time and see the signs that should have told you what was coming? When Alexis asked Ashlee–why she loved him–was just that time. Only Ashlee didn’t see this sign. A sweet response and a glance away to reflect on the light as the day came to an end–Ashlee turned back “to the man that would change her life forever”.

On one knee, Alexis asked if “I would spend the rest of my life with him.” Caught completely off guard, Ashlee was in absolute shock. She actually thought this day would never come and I wonder how many of you have thought the very same way?

“I stood there, wanting to shout “YES!” but all I could say is “What is going on?”. Through the crying and shaking, I nodded my head and smiled — and with that, he put the engagement ring on my finger.”

Ashlee and Alexis will be getting married very soon at the beautiful Coral Gables Congregational Church with reception to follow at Comber Hall. I am so excited to have met this amazing couple and I am really looking forward to photographing their South Florida wedding!

Enjoy their beautiful engagement session slide show featuring beautiful Crandon Botanical garden and beach.(Click the play button below)

Ceremony to be held at Coral Gables Congregational Church

Wedding reception to take place at Comber Hall

Click to see other wonderful Coral Gables Congregational Church weddings!

And to see those receptions that took place at Comber Hall

Have a great weekend and watch out there’s an Easter Bunny running around…careful with the chocolates!

Roy- Contact me!

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]]> http://roylleraphotographers.com/2010/04/02/miami-wedding-photography-5/feed/ 3 http://roylleraphotographers.com/2010/03/17/alfred-dupont-building-miami-wedding/ http://roylleraphotographers.com/2010/03/17/alfred-dupont-building-miami-wedding/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:31:06 +0000 Roy http://roylleraphotographers.com/?p=1781 Yeysenia + Alan | November 21, 2009

Alfred I DuPont Building | Wedding Ceremony and Reception

Life should be filled with sweet moments, don’t you think? I was impressed to learn that Alan proposed to Yesy in the sweetest place on earth, Hershey Pennsylvania–home of Hershey chocolates.

On their wedding day I remember that Yesy was all smiles and giggles just before their first look. “I was so excited and anxious to see Alan for the first time in my wedding dress.  Our first look was magical and unforgettable.”

The ceremony and reception took place at the historic Alfred I DuPont Building. The DuPont building is Miami’s only Art Deco skyscraper and was once a bank headquarters. Cypress ceilings, antique bank teller windows and my favorite backdrop, the immense, round door safe deposit vault make for a wedding photographers dream location!

Yesy’s description of her ceremony is great advice for every Bride. “I can’t even put into words the way I felt moments before I walked down the aisle, when I saw the  beautiful chuppah, all of my family and friends,  and my Alan waiting for me.  I remember pausing, looking around and saying to myself–grasp all of it and never forget it.”

“On our wedding day, I felt like a princess in a fairy tale.”

One of my favorite moments in any Jewish wedding is the horah – a dance of celebration. It is such an exciting exuberant expression of  joy that reflects the love and support of family and friends. Can you see how much Yesy and Alan enjoyed their horah?  — “I love, love, love going to weddings and dancing the horah, so I could not wait to get on that chair!”

A few details: Location: Alfred I Dupont Building; Wedding Dress: Priscilla Of Boston, Platinum Collection; Groom’s Tuxedo: Zegna; Caterer: Mena Catering; Florals: Vivian’s Petals; Limousine: Meilan Limousine; Wedding Cake: Ana Paz Cakes;  Coffee: Cafe A La Carte; Videography: Utopia Video

Enjoy their fantastic wedding slide show.  (Click on the play button)

“It was all so surreal I wish I  would have had a pause button so the night would have never ended.”

I would love to have pause button for life. Until I can come up with one,  great wedding photographs will take you back so that you can pause and reflect upon what an amazing night your wedding will be all about!

Take a look at another stunning Alfred I Dupont wedding: Melissa and Xavier

Roy-Contact Me

Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove Wedding

Your wedding day,  a day that you have dreamed about all your life should be perfect. From the moment you become engaged, your dreams begin to take shape. With Vanessa and Eddie they no doubt had an edge when it came to wedding planning–anje Soirees–not only are they an expert team of event planners… one half of anje Soirees is Andi Dyal-Vanessa’s sister! We had the pleasure of photographing Andi and Michael’s wedding and when her sisters became engaged she called us!

Vanessa shared with me the impact that a love note and flowers had on her. “Eddie wrote me an incredibly touching card and sent me flowers which only made me more excited to finally call him my husband.”

Vanessa’s experience with a private first look at the beautiful Fairchild Tropical Gardens can best be described in her own words. “It was the perfect moment to see each other, one that I was looking forward to all day.”

“I truly felt like the luckiest person in the world.”

In reminiscing about the wedding reception Vanessa said “The room was filled with our closest friends and family, and it was just incredible to see the number of people who traveled from near and far to spend our special day with us.  The night was perfection, thanks to our wedding planners, band, hotel coordinator, and of course our photographer.”

A few details: Wedding Location: Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove; Wedding Planner: anje SOIREES; Ceremony Music: Encore Chamber Players; Wedding Decor: Always Flowers; Music: Junior’s Band; Wedding Cake: Todo Dulces;

Enjoy their beautiful slide show! (Click the play arrow below)

In closing Vanessa had this to say: “It is a day the two of us will never forget, and always cherish.  Truly the happiest day of our lives!”

And it was a very happy day for us as well! We loved being there on the happiest day of your lives!

Looking forward to you coming back again!

Roy – Contact me!

P.S. To see more Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove weddings click the link!

Loren shared this pearl of wisdom with me: “Its funny how when you least expect it you find your other half.”

And I love this snippet of how they met and became engaged: “We met at dinner with mutual friends. I wasn’t planning to go but decided last minute and was late as usual so there was one seat open right next to David… we immediately clicked. He was warm and so funny.”…“The night David proposed I had no idea. It was the night before New Years during a romantic dinner- he told me he couldn’t imagine starting the New Year without completely starting it together…that was how we started 2009!”

Loren and David were married at the tropical paradise that is Jungle Island in Miami surrounded by wonderfully loving family and great friends. Loren is one of four sisters that are amazingly close with a lot of terrific nieces and nephews…and David’s grandfather is his Best man…that is so cool! And get this…Rabbi Abramowitz was Loren’s parents Rabbi when they had their Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s, their wedding and the weddings of Loren’s three sisters!

Loren shared her feelings of anticipation with me as her parents escorted her down the aisle:“I remember I started to walk down the aisle and had butterflies but the minute I saw David standing at the end I was absolutely calm and couldn’t wait to get to the end of the aisle so we could begin our lives together.”

A few details: Wedding Venue: Jungle Island; Floral artistry: Petal Productions; Bridal Makeup & Hair: Tatiana Peralta; Wedding Reception music: Marcia Mitchell Music; Wedding Videographer: Senderey Video; Miami Wedding Photographer: Roy Llera Photographers

Enjoy their amazing wedding video!

To say that their wedding was a wild one would be an understatement; with music provided by none other than the Marcia Mitchell band. Marcia and her master musicians created an ambiance that could not be tamed…and when one of those gorilla’s showed up…he just made a monkey of himself.

Loren shared with me her thoughts about her wedding day: “Our wedding night was unforgettable; we danced until we literally couldn’t dance anymore. From the band to the flowers to the amazing food (including banana splits!) it was like a fairy tale. Roy and his team didn’t miss a second of the evening!”

Loren and David, on behalf of Ricardo, Stella and myself—Thank you for an amazing wedding experience. We are honored by your decision to choose only the best that Miami has to offer in wedding photography.

Have a great day and stop in again soon…we have so much to share with you!

Roy Llera – Contact Me

After their engagement session, I was so looking forward to this wedding on many levels. For me the engagement portrait session is an opportunity to connect with my couples, get a sense of who they are on a deeper level and our engagement session no doubt was a wonderful experience.

You may also recall the Blog post where I wrote of the “fabled” Christian Louboutin Blue Soled shoes. These belong to Melissa!

This wedding had everything but a visit from Sebastian the Ibis…from the “Getting Ready” moment at Melissa’s parents home with Mom, Dad and Melissa’s fabulous bridesmaids, to the beautiful, spiritual wedding ceremony at St Brendan Catholic Church in Miami and a rousing and wild wedding reception at the historic Alfred I DUPont Building in Downtown Miami…it was an amazing day!

Here we have Xavier’s best man asking if anyone knows where the rings are?

A wonderful moment captured–see how this image unfolds in the slide show.

But the most special part of this day for me was visiting Xavier’s Abuela on the way to the reception. It was a very special moment to see how excited she was to see her grandson and his new bride. It is a tender moment like this that makes me so happy to be a wedding photographer. To be a part of a a new beginning in the life of a couple in love is a great feeling.

Some notes about the detail images above: As a child, I remember coming to the Dupont Building with my Dad…back then it was a bank. In the first image, they chose images from their engagement session to decorate the place-card/gift table. In the center bottom image, Melissa & Xavier honor marriage with wedding photos of parents and grandparents displayed.

Details: Melissa’s Wedding Gown by Vera Wang; Wedding Shoes by Christian Louboutin; Event Coordination: Eric Trelles of ET Events; Catering: Misha Culinary Events; Wedding Florals by Jason Frix; Wedding Cake-Cake Design By Edda; Music: @ St. Brendan- Luis Curza & Vista Alegre Club, @ wedding reception- DJ Frankie Bravo & the Band- DMD

By the way, Sebastian, the Miami Hurricane’s mascot was at Landshark Stadium finalizing the details to an ideal wedding gift for Melissa & Xavier…a win over eighth ranked Oklahoma…Go Canes!!! Enjoy the slide show below!

An incredible moment as Mom gives Karla to Gerry…

Karla & Gerry were married surrounded by swaying coconut palms, a soft bay breeze, and the love and warmth of family and friends at the beautiful Grove Isle Resort in Coconut Grove.

What an incredible moment, “Just Married”!

Karla is absolutely stunning in a Romona Keveza creation.

The details: Wedding Location: Grove Isle Resort & Spa; Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza; Wedding Officiate: Rev. Eddie Rodriguez; Wedding Floral Artistry: Avant Gardens; Wedding Cake: Ana Paz Cakes; Miami Wedding Photographer:  Roy Llera Photographers

Click the play button below to view their slide show!

We love photographing weddings at the Grove Isle Resort & Spa! Click here to see more Grove Isle Weddings!

Absolutely stunning!

Love the drama that a silhouette brings to a moment!

Ferris & Michael had a beautiful St. Theresa’s Church of the Little Flower wedding in Coral Gables. This church is a gem among churches…it takes your breath away the moment you walk in…it’s that incredible. Following the lovely ceremony family and friends were treated to another delight—The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

A quiet moment in the Everglades Suite of the Biltmore Hotel!

A special thank you to Melissa of Melissa Davis Designs for introducing me to this wonderful couple!

Husband and Wife....together...so new, exciting!

It's all in the details!

A few details: Wedding Venue: St Theresa Church of the Little Flower; Wedding Reception: The Country Club Ballroom at the Coral Gables Biltmore Hotel; Ceremony Musicians: Stacey Berkley; Floral Artistry/Design: Always Flowers; Reception Music: Soul Survivor; Wedding Cake: We Take the Cake; Wedding Photography: Roy Llera Photographers

A little night music...

We absolutely love photographing weddings at the Miami Biltmore Hotel and to see more weddings that we have photographed there click Miami Biltmore Weddings

Enjoy this awesome wedding slide show!

Thanks for stopping by,

Roy- Contact

I swear these two were thumb wrestling"

About 20 years ago I opened my first studio in Miami Shores and in those early years every Halloween I would open the doors to the studio and photograph the “Trick or Treaters”.  That’s the first time I photographed Rebecca…I would imagine she was maybe 7/8 years old then…who would have imagined that she would be a Bride in front of my camera once again.

These guys are just "too cool"!

From cool suspenders, cooler groomsmen shoes…young and beautiful bridesmaids…and a fun couple being a Miami Wedding Photographer can be a lot of fun! Add to that a great Miami Shores crowd…I had so many clients at this wedding…and that made this Miami wedding a blast!

Rebecca & Matt were married at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Miami Shores and they had a wild reception following the ceremony at the Rusty Pelican.

A great couple gets married in Miami-The City Beautiful!

A few details: Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal; Makeup: Amy Palma of South Beach Make Up Studio; Wedding Flowers: The Flower Bar; Reception Music: DJ Mike Sarz