Shawn and Karalyne got married in Weston, Florida at Green Glades Ranch just outside of Fort Lauderdale. Green Glades Ranch is a private natural ranch owned by Alligator Ron Bergeron, Karalyne’s grandfather. I need you all to stop what you’re doing right now and look up Alligator Ron, the guy is a legend! Most of Karalyne’s family has been married at this family ranch so it only seemed fitting that it would be the perfect place for her and Shawn to tie the knot. Like most love stories, Shawn & Karalyne’s is nothing short of a truly special one. The two of them met through recovery, which is so beautiful in itself. They were both in the trenches of their life when Shawn spotted Karalyne at a restaurant after an event. He mustered up the courage to go up to her, say hi, and ask her for her number. The kicker to this story is that Karalyne was with her mom and Shawn got nervous and ended up asking her mom for her number too…LOL AWKWARD!!!! But, after that, the rest has seemed to be history, super beautiful history. The two are truly the best of friends and this was felt the entirety of their wedding day. 

We arrived mid day to the south Florida ranch, where Shawn & Karalyne were getting ready to make the most important vows of their life. We went to see Karalyne first to get detail shots and capture the nerves of a bride getting ready. The bridal suite was a beautiful home filled with alligator, snake, and many other wildlife statues. There were horns hung all along the walls, antique saddles, and so much more. It was truly a beautiful backdrop to hang her dress, lay out her veil, and show off her intricate details. Karalyne was joined by her bridal party, aka her closest friends to set the vibe for getting ready. The girls shared a small dance party together to get the nervousness out and to get ready for after the ceremony! 

After we captured the beauty of her details, we headed over to where Shawn was to get him and his boys getting ready. First, we interviewed Shawn. Hearing a couples love story through the lens of a man is arguably one of my favorite parts of the day. Men aren’t normally the emotional type, but you ask them some questions about their soon to be wife and they break. They let their guards down and pour love into the conversation. Hearing what Shawn had to say about Karalyne was so sweet, wholesome, and authentic. You could just FEEL that he truly loves her so much. After having some time with just Shawn, we invited his groomsmen over to hype him up and capture the craziness of boys well…being boys! 

At this point in the day, las minute details are being brought to life, decorations are being set, chairs are being lined, and important people are beginning to arrive. There was a subtle shift in the mood of the day. Tensions became a bit higher as the time got closer to Karalyne walking down the aisle. The countdown to the ceremony was on and the couple couldn’t have been more ready. Karalyne got into her absolutely stunning dress, covered in detailed lace with the most beautiful veil I had ever seen. Her sisters and bridesmaids helped her put her jewelry and shoes on and put the final touches on her hair and makeup. Karalyne’s father arrived and he was ready to see his girl. We told him we were going to put the microphone on him to capture his reaction to which he pushed back a bit saying it wasn’t a big deal and he didn’t think he needed the mic. WELL!! We are so glad we didn’t listen to him because the moment he saw her he absolutely melted. You could just FEEL that he was so proud to be Karalyne’s dad and thought she was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen. There’s just something about a dad and his girl, can we agree?! 

The time has come for the ceremony and the beautiful South Florida sun was just beginning to soften. It’s as if the sun knew it was time for these two to get married. 150+ chairs covered the lawn overlooking a beautiful arch and a gorgeous pond that overlooked this family property. Karalyne made her way down the aisle to her almost husband. Shawn shed a couple tears as he saw her, and couldn’t believe how stunning she looked as he said that multiple times during the evening after the ceremony. The couple exchanged the most beautiful vows I have ever heard and there was not a dry eye in sight, including mine. These two are truly soul mates, and everyone in attendance could feel it. They exchanged their first kiss and were ready to get the reception so they could have the time of their lives with their friends and family. 

The reception was held in Alligator Ron’s saloon. Yes, you read that right, a personal saloon, right there on the property! The reception was nothing short of EPIC with the absolute best vibes ever! There were shiny cowgirl hats, glow sticks, twerking, worm dance moves, even Alligator Ron was on the dance floor! These two danced the night away with their nearest friends and family and were sent off by a beautiful sparkler exit. The two made their way through the sparkler tunnel and shared dips, kisses, and applause as everyone watched the couple end the best day of their lives.