When Anna first emailed me last year wondering if I was available for her JW Marriott Marco Island Wedding, I was giddy with excitement. She is a dear friend of my amazing clients, Cara and Alan (they said I do last year at the Peninsula in Chicago) and I knew if she was a dear friend of theirs she would be a dream bride. And let me tell you, Anna IS the dream bride. She is bubbly, fun and beyond sweet. She is gorgeous and kind and has this magnetic energy that you just want to be around, so when I had the privilege of documenting her wedding to Michael in Marco Island, I knew it would be a day full of so much happy (and boy was it!).

What I love most about weddings at the JW Marriott Marco Island area the beautiful grounds that hotel has. It is a photographer’s dream to photograph at this beach wedding venue, and Anna and Michael made it that much more fun because they were up for exploring the property on their wedding day to ensure we co-created the most beautiful photos. Anna’s bridal suite at the hotel was amazing because she had a huge private balcony that was the best for getting ready photos and for some photos before the ceremony.

Anna and Michael opted for a first look before their wedding ceremony, something that I love when couples do, especially when they are getting married at the same location as the reception. Michael was so sweet and got emotional when he saw Anna. Michael’s dad was their officiant and he wrote such a sweet, loving message for their wedding ceremony which added to the beautiful vows that Anna and Michael wrote for one another. As the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, the couple wed on the beach surrounded by their closest friends and family who travel from all over the world (Anna’s family came all the way from Georgia …. the country, not the state) to be there with them. These two draw people into their orbit and their circle of friends and family only illustrated how magnetic their love for each other is and for those they love most.  Their reception was one huge party which was exactly what the couple envisioned for their day. They danced late into the evening and celebrated with a few Georgian traditions like drinking out of a horn (just wait until you see the photos….).

Anna + Michael, you are gems. Your vibration radiates out to the world and reminds us to love with abandon. Thank you for trusting me to document this beautiful wedding day for you. It was nothing short of a dream, and I hope this day is only the start of the most amazing adventure together.

This dreamy JW Marriott Marco Island wedding wouldn’t be as magical if it weren’t for the amazing Florida team of vendors that all played a part in this beautiful wedding!

Photography : Brittany Bekas

Wedding Coordination : Take My Hand Events

Floral : Something Borrowed + Something Bloomed

Makeup + Hair : Naples akeup Artistry 

Catering : JW Marriott Marco Island

Venue : JW Marriott Marco Island

DJ : Mobile Sound Entertainment

Rentals : Niche Event Rentals

Videographer : Love It Films

Looking for more wedding planning advice and weddings?

+ Is a destination wedding right for you?

 + How to create the perfect wedding day timeline (according to a wedding photographer)

+ Why is wedding photography so expensive?

+ What Brittany Bekas clients say about their wedding photography experience

Are you planning at a wedding at the JW Marriott in Marco Island? If so, I might be the perfect wedding photographer to document your wedding. Hi, I am Brittany, and I am a fine art film photographer specializing in lifestyle wedding and family photography in Southwest Florida. I travel worldwide photographing beautiful weddings, engagements, and families, and most of the time you can find me in Southwest Florida (where I am based) or in Chicago (my hometown). My light and airy editing style and candid, joyful photos are what I am best known for. Interested in working together? Contact the studio for more information.