Jacksonville Beach Weddings – KiKi Creates Blog

{Beka&Mike | Engagement at Talbot Island| KiKi Creates |Jacksonville,…

November 2, 2018

Whenever I get asked what I miss about Florida the most, I always say sailing. So when Beka and Mike had the idea of sailing at sunrise for their engagement. I was all in! They are a super adventurous and fun couple, so this session was true to who they are and could not have been more up my alley. They cracked some beers on a private island as the sun hit the horizon and it was just about the coolest way to spend your morning. And, they get married in a week! So why not reminisce 🙂 Check out our sailing session below!
Enjoy!
KiKi
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amelia island engagement photographer

{Jenna&Josh | Engagement at Neptune Beach | KiKi Creates…

October 11, 2018

I was pretty excited about this shoot when Jenna first approached me. I mean who wouldn’t want to take off on a Monday, pop champagne on the beach and then proceed to jump in the ocean, fully clothed? And then follow it up with another bottle of champagne and an underwater shoot in one of your friends pools? Usually I am sending emails on Monday, so this was a welcomed change.
Jenna and I have been friends for several years. She has seen my style change and ideas go all over and still been so supportive of my work. When you meet Jenna, you can instantly tell she is one of those people that is always smiling and so incredibly kind to others she meets. She would joke that she was excited for me to photograph her engagement, even when she wasn’t engaged. It made me feel so special and excited to one day do that! Then in comes Josh. Sweet, loving Josh that seems to make Jenna smile even more. He was so open to my ideas as well. Especially for not knowing me too well. Things like, “Throw Jenna in the water fully clothed.” ; “Pop the champagne right over my shoulder.”; and “Hey, I am going to get a picture of your dog taking a #2 right in front of you guys kissing.” didn’t seem to phase him. 🙂 Overall it was one of the most fun engagement shoots I have ever done. And I will let ya just check out the photos. Enjoy!
KiKi
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Destination Wedding Photographer

{Niki&Dan | Elopement at Anastasia Island | KiKi Creates…

August 22, 2018

I wanted to live in Niki & Dan’s day forever. Seriously. Even though there were only 7 of us total, it was a blast to hang out and see two people that have never been to the states, enjoy such an awesome day. Especially with me as the tour guide. They had a ceremony on a secluded beach, kissed each other right as they say each other (couldn’t wait till i dos!), threw pebbles in the ocean with their family and friends after they tied the knot, sipped champagne and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset.
But everything was not perfect from the start! Here is a little something I wrote the day after the wedding about everything up until the ceremony…
Somehow thousands of miles away, Niki and Dan found me. They flew in from Britain to get married on Anastasia. The week they flew in, a huge tropical storm hit Florida. When they arrived to their air Bnb to get ready for their wedding, it wasn’t ready and they had to quickly relocate to a hotel. They booked an Uber to take them to their ceremony, which canceled moments before it was suppose to arrive. Once they got in a car and got half way to the ceremony, they realized they had forgotten the marriage license and had to turn around. It was also dumping rain when they arrived. Feeling helpless watching the radar, a huge gust of wind came in and blew the weather away. Opening up for a bit to take photos on what was now a completely secluded beach. What’s funny is that I’ve had couples break down over the smallest thing when they are getting married a few minutes from their home. But Niki and Dan, thousands of miles from home, having absolutely no idea where or what they were getting into, with what seemed to be everything working against them, were so incredibly happy. Hugging and giving me kisses on the cheek, making jokes, doing an American accent as I tried to do a posh British one. It was like nothing ever happened. I know there is so much that goes on during a wedding day. Whether you have 5 guests or 500. Its an emotional and well thought out day. But if all else fails, remember that you are one of those lucky ones that found someone who loves you rain or shine, Uber or no Uber, marriage certificate or not. You love them and damnit if a tropical storm is going to prevent you from shouting it from a secluded beach and putting a ring on that finger. You guys are seriously “totally awesome” (to be said in a posh American 1990s accent)
Enjoy! KiKi
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amelia island engagement photographer

{Amy&BJ | Engagement Session at Lake Runnymede Conservation Park…

August 2, 2018

I think I can say, that this engagement session here, had the most laughs and giggles ever within an hour session. Maybe it’s because we were alone in the woods, hanging out for the first time in years. Maybe it’s because these two have been together for almost a decade. Or maybe it’s because Bj and Amy are just kick ass cool. 🙂 Either way, I had an amazing time hanging out with these two and cannot imagine what kind of fun we are going to have in November for their wedding. Check out all the giggles and twirls and a couple climbs up a tree below.
Enjoy!
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Destination Wedding Photographer

{Claire&Mo | Wedding at The White Room | KiKi…

June 7, 2018March 28, 2019

Oh Claire and Mo. How I feel so special to be able to call you friends. I met Mo almost 7 years ago at the local watering hole, Mellow Mushroom. He is apart of my great group of friends in Jax. They are not only great because they are just so fun, but that group of a dozen plus people believed in me and my career, even despite some of the weird or novice ideas I may have had at the beginning of starting my company. 🙂 Mo was also one of the first people I went offshore fishing with, which still remains one of my favorite things to do. Needless to say, they have a very special place in my heart.
A few years ago, Claire Bear came into the group with her beautiful red hair and infectious smile. Claire is not just a beautiful woman, she is one bad ass boss. She started her company in her early twenties and already has an amazing store front, another stylist and countless clients that love her talents and personality. I am so impressed by her drive at such a young age and her ability to remain so carefree along the way. So to add that to the already fun loving and kind Mo, was pretty much perfect. When they got engaged it made our whole group so happy to see two close friends start their life together.
Ya know, I could go on and on about their day and them. But I will say one thing that I really loved and let the photos say the rest. While Claire was twirling around in her wedding gown on the dance floor, with literally the biggest smile I have ever seen on her face, I went up to Mo to ask him how he was doing. Mo, putting work on his cocktail and not some much on the dance floor was looking at Claire, also with a big smile. He responded to me and said, “I am doing great! As long as she is the happiest she can be, I am.” And that’s just the kind of guy Mo is. I can’t say I have ever heard him complain or talk about himself much. He just always seems to be the one that’s happy if everyone else is. A completely selfless guy. So, congrats you two! On not only getting married, but being genuinely kind and amazing friends to me. Enjoy the blog and check out a couple things Claire had to say about the day below..
“I had dreamt of the day I would get engaged to Mo, but once it happened I was overwhelmed with the idea of wedding planning. Fortunately, my mom knew exactly where to start. Her and I worked together to create my dream wedding and the best day of my life! My favorite memory of the day was getting to ride the trolley as a new married couple, just the two of us, to the reception. It was the only moment we had to ourselves in the midst of the crazy, wonderful day.”
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Venue: Mission Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine

Reception: The White Room

Dress: The White Magnolia

Designer: Wtoo by Watters

Makeup: Gypsy at Studio Bride

Hair: Rachel Barnes at Mantra Hair Salon

Florist: Flower Works – David

Cake: Sweet Weddings

DJ: Billy Parry BPM Weddings

Caterer: The White Room

Officiant: Father William Kelly

Colorado Wedding Photographer

{Jennie&Josh | Wedding at Casa Marina | KiKi Creates…

May 2, 2018March 28, 2019

Jennie & Josh have an incredibly tight knit family. You can tell by how they interact with each other. There were so many smiles and tears on their wedding day. It seemed as if every single person at the wedding had a part in their story and it was beautiful to be apart of the mix.
Hurricane Irma & Maria came into the east coast as a category 5 and displaced Jennie and Josh several months before and after their wedding. They went and stayed with Jennie’s parents and planned and put together the rest of their day over the next few months hundreds of miles from home. Jennie spent time making the cake, flowers, and decorations. It was truly a labor of love and man did they celebrate! Jennies bridesmaids wrote personalized letters to her the day of, her grandmothers broach was worn and given to her with a note as well. Josh had drinks with all of his buddies before our super goofy groomsmen photos after. It was a gorgeous sunset and with all our shoes kicked off we ran down to the beach to get some of my favorite portraits at Casa. The ceremony and reception speeches had everyone crying with happy tears. And as if everything was not already perfect enough, under a full moon and hundreds of twinkle lights, there entire wedding picked them up and put them on their shoulders during the last song. It was such an energetic wedding day and I absolutely had a blast!
Check out their fun filled, sunny wedding day below! Enjoy!
KiKi
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Venue:

– Casa Marina

– 691 1st St N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250, USA

Photographer: KiKi Creates

Dress:

– CC’s Bridal Boutique

– 4212 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609, USA

Makeup and hair:

– Make Up by Paulina

– 5711 Bowden Road, Suite #2

Jacksonville, FL 32216

Rentals:

– Savvi Formalwear

Florist:

Flowers by my beautiful wife!

Cake:

Cake by my beautiful wife!

Caterer:

– Casa Marina

Officiant:

– Dani Jo Ninke

Coordinator:

– Casa Marina

amelia island wedding photographer

{Lee&Jean | Elopement at One Ocean | KiKi Creates…

April 6, 2018

Lee and Jean met me at sunrise on a Friday. It was a completely cloudless, windless, gorgeous day. With us were their parents and the officiant. It happened to be a quiet morning in Neptune Beach where we shared the dock with a single seagull and that is about it.
Directly after the Ceremony Jean’s Mother embraced them both in the biggest hug. It was a sweet moment as they were essentially getting hugged by 25% of their wedding guests. Which I always thought was sweet. Sharing a moment so important and lasting in their memory. The sun hit the horizon and we spent a quiet and happy morning by the sea before a beach front brunch. And although we only spent a little over an hour together, I feel I got to get to know and share more with Lee and Jean than you would think. Thanks for smiling the whole time and making an early morning feel not so early. 🙂
Check out their sweet elopement below. Enjoy!
KiKi
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Colorado

{Anna&Joe | Wedding at The Winterbourne Inn | KiKi…

March 27, 2018

I met Anna and Joe Camping. Which is a great start to any story because we all love camping. Anna was actually sitting in a hammock with a colorful shirt, beautiful blonde hair and such an inviting smile. Then I met Joe, who has an even bigger smile and a wonderfully happy personality. They were not engaged at the time, but they were one of those couples where everyone was just waiting for it to happen. And I wish there is something I could say to convey the love Joe and Anna have. I’ve tried to put some words together but I am struggling to really say how I can tell there going to make it. So I’ll say this… Everyone, literally everyone I talked to about Joe and Anna, knew that they were the purest definition of meant to be. I’ve never seen a couple compliment each other so beautifully and so lovingly. And beyond the great relationship, they are just darn right FUN dancing machines. There is never a dull moment around them. I actually stayed an hour longer and didn’t realize it because I too was having fun and maybe dancing while photographing (It’s a total pro move:)). I will let you read what Anna wrote below and hope you enjoy the images! -KiKi

From Anna the Bride:
“Joe and I love being outdoors and do a lot of camping so naturally the ceremony was outside on the St. Johns River. Joe grew up on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, the venue was a perfect fit. Our flower dog was our fluffy husky. He is our fur baby and anyone who knows us also knows Ryder. He totally stole the show!

When I found my dress I loved the vintage feel of the lace. It was a sweet surprise that the lace on my mom’s veil had the same lace…so I surprised her by wearing the veil on my wedding day. It was a sweet surprise.

Joe and I also love music so our DJ was crucial. He was a friend of ours that we have seen on several occasions. He knew exactly our style and knew how to mix fun songs together to get EVERYONE on the dance floor. I think at one point we had three dance parties going on at the same time in various areas of the venue. We love music so much we made a “mix cd” for our wedding favors so our guests could rock out with us for years to come.”

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Venue: The Winterbourne Inn

Photographer: Kiki Creates

Dress: Watters from White Magnolia in Jacksonville, FL

Makeup and hair:

Hair- Sami Skinner Rio Salon

Makeup: Lucia Palenik

Rentals: Lights- St Johns Illuminations

Florist: The Anti Bride j

Cake: Calli Marie Bakes

Caterer: The Winterbourne Inn

Officiant: Pastor Bob Hovey , First coast ceremonies firstcoastceremonies@gmail.com

Coordinator: Kim Pilgrim, The Winterbourne Inn winterbourneinn@hotmail.com

amelia island engagement photographer

{Katie & Justin | Engagement at Turkey Lake |…

March 13, 2018

There is something to be said about the feeling of truly being your wonderful, goofy self with the one you love. And that’s is what I’ve always seen in Katie and Justin. They just seem so naturally in love and super easy going and fun. I met Katie for the first time in Ireland for a wedding I was photographing for a mutual friend. Lets just say, when I met her and her sense of humor, I was sort of in love. She is just such a fun person to be around and made me laugh non stop.
So of course I was pretty darn excited when I saw that she had messaged me about photographing her wedding next month. And after our engagement session filled with a gorgeous sunrise and tons of laughs, I was even more excited. You two are an extremely fun couple to be around and I can’t wait for next month!
Here is a preview of their engagement session and more to come next month after their wedding day. Enjoy!
KiKi
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Colorado Wedding Photographer

{Rachel & Kevin Wedding at The Ribault Club |…

October 20, 2017

Rachel & Kevin are one of those couples you can sit down to have a beer with and end up having 6. Their easy going, fun, incredibly genuine, always have a smile on and are ultimately exactly why I began photographing weddings.
I think it is pretty incredible that I can meet someone for the first time on a day that is probably one of the most personal and emotional days of their lives and become friends with them immediately.
Rachel & Kevin did it up right for their wedding. They got ready at the beach, at homes across the street from each other. With a lace dress and a blue suit they had a first look by the river at one of my favorite wedding locations, the Ribault Club. They were married under a giant oak tree by a family friend and had confetti thrown as they were introduced for the first time as husband and wife. Their 26 person bridal party was the largest I have ever photographed and is only a testimony to how amazing and loved the two of them are.
At their reception, with flowers in her hair, Rachel was twirled by Kevin as he smiled at her non stop (my favorite moment). The sunset was perfect without a cloud in the sky. At the end of the night a cigar rolling station started and their entire bridal party put on a choreographed dance for them. It was a really magical and fun day and I am excited to see where Rachel and Kevin take their next journey to! They are absolutely wonderful and I can only expect absolutely wonderful things from them!
PS. Rachel & Kevin, I will come to California and we will get that Beer (or 6) together. 🙂
Enjoy!
KiKi
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