Love on Marco Island

“They say love finds you when you least expect it…”

These are the words Lauren used to begin the story of how she and Justin met in February 2021. With the global pandemic in full force, Lauren decided to visit her parents in Marco Island, Florida for a weekend. While out on a family friend’s boat, the inquisition about whether there were any love interests in Lauren’s life came up. The answer was “no.” Not for long!

Lauren was sent over to the Michaels’ house to return a borrowed anchor. Justin was there to help Lauren with this heavy anchor, and the rest is history.

Lauren and Justin agreed Marco Island was the perfect place to get married. It’s where it all began after all, not to mention it’s a shared favorite getaway for them both.

The ceremony was set to take place at San Marco Catholic Church, right around the corner from the Michaels’ house, where Lauren would be getting ready. Lauren and Justin both agreed that the moment they most looked forward to, was seeing each other at either end of the aisle. Lauren was smiling ear to ear, and during the ceremony, they would often lean toward each other where everyone could read their lips, whispering “I love you.” It was so sweet!

After the ceremony, we quickly snuck Lauren and Justin’s families out the side of the church while their guests lined up for the couple’s exit. Lauren and Justin are both the last of their siblings to get married – and they both are one of four! With a collective nine nieces and nephews (and two on the way), the families are huge! Lauren and Justin love kids. I imagine they will have 10. They certainly could handle it. As an observer, it is evident that Lauren and Justin are head over heels for each other. Each other was obviously their number one thought on the wedding day as well. Second to each other, their families, and most specifically, their nieces and nephews. They doted on them all day long, and I loved seeing all those young, excited faces dancing on the dance floor the whole night.

After exiting the church through a crowd of ribbons, we headed to their venue, the Island Country Club. Lauren and Justin have such a large family, that they both decided to keep their wedding parties to siblings and in-laws plus their maid of honor and best man. This still made for a big wedding party!

Maybe this makes my career as a metropolitan area wedding photographer way too obvious, but I was obsessed with the palm trees surrounding Island Country Club. Palms, palmettos, Bermuda grass and sand, I want all of it! There is definitely a difference in the color of this greenery, mixed with the clean, vibrant sun of Florida that just made this wedding so exciting for me. But that’s just a small part of it. I could not have asked for a better couple to end my 2023 wedding season with. Lauren and Justin are salt of the earth people. Together, they are beaming.

There is an art to helping couples look natural in front of a camera, and telling them how to pose. With Lauren and Justin, I just threw out the “rule book” and went with whatever they were doing. They are naturals, because they genuinely adore each other, and it makes my job as a photographer so easy. The hard part was reminding myself that they do want to join cocktail hour and I did have to let them go.

The party was just beginning! Lauren made everyone feel special, as was her goal for the wedding. For seating cards, she had handwritten greeting cards for each of her guests to express how grateful she and Justin were for their making their wedding day so special, just by being an important part of their lives.

The couple were toasted by Lauren’s father, Justin’s best man, and Lauren’s older sisters. The rest of the day was little people taking over the dance floor, and the best time for every guest in attendance.

We ended our night with Lauren and Justin cutting their cake and sneaking away with their family for one last hurrah – a sparkler exit!

Congratulations, Lauren and Justin! We are so thrilled to have been part of your special day and loved getting to know you and your lovely families!

Venue: Island Country Club, Marco Island, FL

Photographer: Lauren Kearns Photography

Planner: KC Weddings & Events

Hair/Makeup: Unbreakable Beauty

Wedding Dress: Loretta’s Bridal Boutique

Rings: Bentleys Fine Jewelers

Bridesmaids Dresses: Country Bride and Gent

Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Black Tie

Invitations: Amber LeBlanc Studio

Florist: 5th Ave Florist

Videographer: Kate Olivia Films

Entertainment: Bay Kings Band