MinJee and David’s dreamy destination Central Florida wedding transported their guests to the charming hills of Tuscany, Italy without leaving the sunshine state. The couple exchanged vows in front of a stone-clad villa against a backdrop of blue skies and sparkling water, before dining and dancing with guests in an elegant ballroom reception filled with neutral flora and candlelight.

“We wanted European/Italian vibes for our wedding. We planned a honeymoon in Italy, and we are inspired by European architecture,” the bride beamed. “We chose a neutral palette of mostly white and sage.”

The bride and groom prioritized guest experience throughout the planning process, extending the celebration throughout the entire week so that they could spend as much quality time with their loved ones as possible, including time spent at one of their all-time favorite destinations.

“It was important to both of us that our family and friends felt included, loved and appreciated,” MinJee detailed. “We spent a whole week in Orlando with our closest friends and family; we were so lucky to be able to share our love for Disney with them throughout the wedding week.”

The Maryland couple planned an intimate April celebration with 80 guests in attendance. MinJee and David prioritized finding a photographer who would document the day in natural fashion and timeless style. The immediately felt a connection with Eddy Almaguer Photography and were impressed by Eddy’s portfolio of classic images.

“We wanted someone who was comfortable to talk to and felt like a friend, and someone who captured timeless, authentic photos that didn’t look too edited,” the bride articulated. “We chose Eddy Almaguer Photography because Eddy met all of our criteria; he felt like a genuine friend who cared about us and was just as excited as we were!”

“When I reflect on this wedding, I think of the kindness and consideration I experienced. Whether it’s how the groom’s parents surprised the bride’s Korean father with a translation of the entire ceremony so he could follow along, how they incorporated Korean elements into the ceremony and reception, or how the groom (through the best man) gifted his bride a Super 8 camera for their travels, knowing her love for documenting memories in analog formats,” the photographer revealed. “One of my favorite all-time photos I’ve ever taken was from the confetti drop. It’s the image of Minjee in the center of the frame with sunglasses. I had literal seconds to grab that shot and it came out just as I’d hoped capturing the energy of the moment. They’re also huge Disney fans, and they did a choreographed first dance routine that had the house rocking!”

The pair envisioned a minimalist design with all-white flowers accented with greenery for a timeless feel, but personalized their signage to reflect their personalities and interests.

“Our signage incorporated all three of our pets: drink stirrers, napkins, and foam cut outs and our seating chart was a nod to David’s love for aviation as an airline pilot. It read, ‘Find your seat and prepare for take off!’” the bride detailed. 

“The bespoke, self-designed seating chart and stone table numbers were excellently crafted,” the photographer explained when recalling his favorite details of the day. “The seating chart was aviation-themed because the groom is a commercial airline pilot. And when I found out that they did it themselves, it floored me. Of course, it came as no surprise when I learned they launched their own luxury event design service, Interest of Joy. They are such a talented couple!”

To the delight of their guests, the couple planned and practiced a special first dance that reflected their affinity for Disney, which became a core memory for the bride and groom.

“Surprising our guests with our choreographed Disney mashup dance was the most memorable moment of the day,” MinJee reminisced.

The Proposal:
David proposed during one of our trips at Disney Springs. This later became our rehearsal dinner venue, Paddlefish, and we got to show it to all our friends and family.

What did you look for in a wedding photographer?
We wanted someone who was comfortable to talk to and felt like a friend, and someone who captured timeless, authentic photos that didn’t look too edited. We chose Eddy Almaguer Photography because Eddy met all of our criteria; he felt like a genuine friend who cared about us and was just as excited as we were!