Leslie & Brandon - Aventura, FL - Sacramento

A Modern Cinderella Wedding at JW Marriott Turnberry

Leslie and Brandon's wedding at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort and Spa in Aventura, Florida was a modern Cinderella celebration where South Florida warmth met Brazilian elegance. People often ask if we direct or simply document, and the answer is both. Our work starts weeks before the day, refining the timeline with the couple's planner so everything feels calm and unhurried. For Leslie and Brandon we photographed as a team of three, because capturing their family and guests mattered so much, letting us be in more than one place at once.

Bride in white ball gown and groom in black tuxedo pose together against lush green ivy wall backdrop.

Elegant white bridal ball gown with corset bodice and spaghetti straps displayed on a mannequin.

The Bride: Quiet Moments Before I Do

By the time we arrived, Leslie was already hair and makeup ready, exactly as the timeline planned. A Brazilian bride with a love for timeless elegance, she wore a sculptural Danielle Frankel gown and a custom mantilla veil by Brazilian designer Sandro Barros, a quiet tribute to her roots, finished with Christian Dior heels. Two of us stayed close capturing different angles, while our third photographer worked outside with drone images of the ceremony location.

The Groom: Calm Before the Celebration

Nearby, Brandon got ready with his groomsmen, calm and quietly excited. A Florida native who grew up in Fort Lauderdale, he was marrying the woman who, as his friends like to say, brought him back home to his roots. He carried family with him through a gold heirloom band that once belonged to his grandfather, a small but deeply meaningful detail we made sure to capture.

The First Look: One Breath Before Forever

Then came the first look, the moment Leslie and Brandon saw each other for the first time that day. We keep our distance and let it happen naturally, capturing the real reactions, and only after step in for a few couple portraits. We love a first look because it gives us that calm time before the ceremony, so the couple can stay present with their guests later.

The Ceremony: Vows by Candlelight

The ceremony unfolded beneath nearly 300 LED candles and live strings inside the JW Marriott Turnberry ballroom. Originally planned outdoors, the forecast moved it inside, and it turned out breathtaking. We photograph the ceremony in a fully documentary way, watching not only the couple but the tears and proud smiles of family, capturing several angles at once as a team.

Surrounded by the People We Love Most

After the vows, we gathered everyone who matters most for portraits, from the bridal party to the families who traveled to celebrate this cross cultural union. Full of laughter and connection, these images capture the community of love that surrounded Leslie and Brandon throughout their wedding day in Aventura, Florida.

Making It Official

In a quiet, meaningful moment, Leslie and Brandon signed their marriage certificate and made it all official. A simple pause amid the celebration, it marked the very beginning of their life as husband and wife.

The Reveal: An Editorial Garden Unveiled

Before the doors opened to their guests, the couple stepped into the reception for a private reveal of the space. Lush greenery, palms, orchids, a foliage crowned bar, and warm golden light turned the JW Marriott Turnberry ballroom into an editorial garden. Taking it in together, just the two of them, was a moment of pure magic before the party began.

The Celebration: A Brazilian Heart on the Dance Floor

Then the celebration came alive, with the Brazilian band Electro Samba Orchestra, a surprise saxophonist, brigadeiros, and caipirinhas bringing Brazil to South Florida. From the Jewish chair lifting to a late night spread, it was pure joy. A reception happens only once, so we stay fully documentary, and our goal is always the same: images that move you just as much years from now.