This Avila Beach wedding centered on creating a fun experience where family and friends came together in celebration of love. In fact, it was evident from the first moment I met Theresa and a group of her friends over coffee. During that initial chat, I learned that the idea of a celebratory wedding is what drove Theresa & Kiley throughout the wedding planning process. Couples who aim to create an immersive wedding day experience take the same approach when planning their wedding, driven only by a feeling, a vibe. One thing is for sure: I love an epic celebration. Anytime I can get down on the dance floor with my couples on their wedding day is a win. Needless to say, Theresa and I instantly clicked over the notion of a fun wedding.
I can honestly look back and say that I truly had no idea where that shared sentiment would take us. My time with Theresa & Kiley was a journey into their lives and the lives of those around them. Not only did I have the pleasure of documenting Theresa and Kiley’s Avila Beach wedding, but I was also present to capture their daughter, Ashley’s, surprise proposal, which unfolded in the months prior to Theresa and Kiley’s wedding. From there, it was a couple’s photoshoot between Ashley and Mark. Finally, a family portrait session for one of Theresa’s best friends. A total of four beautiful milestones celebrated through imagery. Each and every one of them taking place on Avila Beach.
Fun-filled Avila Beach Wedding
At the center of it all was Theresa and Kiley hosting their wedding at Avila Lighthouse Suites. When the day arrived, the energy in the air was electric. Everyone was getting dressed and ready over shared laughs and a popped bottle of champagne. It was all in preparation for Theresa and Kiley’s wedding ceremony, held on the white sand shores of Avila Beach. A beautiful arbor framed the sea behind them. And friends and family were in attendance as Theresa and Kiley were pronounced husband and wife. Their beautifully profound wedding vows were just the beginning.
After saying I do, I worked with Theresa and Kiley on wedding portraits along the shores of Avila Beach. This moment, walking along the beach with Theresa & Kiley as newlyweds, was a surreal blend of joy punctuated by excitement. My approach was to embrace all they were experiencing by capturing imagery that thoroughly conveyed the sentiment of the moment (my colleague, Captured by Candace in Seattle, would agree). Off in the distance, a jetty underlined the horizon with sailboats bobbing lightly over the swells. As we walked along the shoreline where the sand meets the sea, I noticed, Avila Beach belonged to Theresa & Kiley.
Avila Lighthouse Suites Reception
We headed back to Avila Lighthouse Suites for the wedding reception, where the fun kicked into high gear. Theresa and Kiley shared a first dance as newlyweds on the al fresco dance floor. Meanwhile, their guests were treated to a cocktail hour with a variety of libations and a delectable sampling of appetizers. The festivities continued as the drinks flowed and the dance floor filled. As the wedding reception at Avila Lighthouse Suites closed, the after-party kicked off! A local coastal-themed dive bar served up late-night pizza that flowed as freely as the IPA’s on tap! But by far, one of my favorite moments was working with Theresa and Kiley on a few late-night portraits in their hotel room. You can see all the details from their Avila Beach wedding when you scroll through the images below.
