I’ve been meaning to write this blog for some time now. However, as the holidays took over and the year ended, we were blessed with family visits and inundated with distractions. We’ve also been working fiercely on our rebranding this wedding photography business of ours (more on that later). So as the new year began and the wave of 2011 rolled back, I’ve finally found the time to write. Krystle & Kevin were wed November 26 in Key West and we had the great privilege to document their big day.

Nate & I flew down to Ft. Lauderdale the Friday morning before their wedding and rented a car to make the brief 4 hour drive to the southern most incorporated point in the contiguous 48 states. It was a great day for a drive. We stopped at various points along the route to take pictures of the scenery or to experience the local gas stations. It was a great time.

We shacked up at the Lighthouse Court Inn, a quaint little spot directly across the street from the Ernest Hemingway House and about a mile from the ceremony site. Needless to say it was overrun with six-toed cats and as a bonus, roosters. In fact, the entire island is a haven for cats & chickens. It was a strange dynamic; cats, chickens, and drunk people all thrown together and forced to cohabitate peacefully. What a great place to get married.

As Nate & I have only been to Key West once each, we really didn’t know the prime spots for photography much less what the sun would be doing once we found these spots. Enter Erica from Simply You Weddings. She stepped right up and took all of the guess work out of finding the perfect backdrops for our photos. She even went as far as to pick us up from the airport when we had to drop off our rental car. Once she had us seated comfortably in her SUV, she drove us around the island and stopped at all the points in which she thought would interest us. It was a great time saver and even gave us a personalized tour of Key West by a hip local. It was certainly win win for us Dorn Brothers.

Because we were already down in Key West the day before the wedding, Krystle & Kevin were gracious enough to invite us to their rehearsal dinner/welcome party. Aside from having a great meal, we were given the opportunity to meet their family and other guests who made their way down from the mainland (mostly from the great state of Ohio) to be a part of the celebration. We were seated next to Krystle’s parents, her sister, and some of their lifelong friends. They made us feel right at home.

The next day, we met up with Krystle & her girls as they prepped themselves in her hotel room. As they had their hair and makeup done, they were eating salads and drinking moonshine. I was positive that this was going to be a great day. We snapped a few preparation photos before leaving to check on Kevin and his crew who were getting dressed at the Old Town Manor (site of the reception). We got what we needed here and then began rounding them all up for the First Look. Even we were running a little behind at this point, we were able to shoot the first look and the formals quite quickly because of Simply You Weddings and Erica showing us around the day before We knew just where to go. We were also given the luxury of having golf carts provided for us to expedite our process. We got some great shots and started making our way back to the hotel for the ceremony. However, Krystle decided that they all needed a shot of something before they had to behave. We quickly found Captain Tony’s Saloon and pulled to the curb. We entered, what could be, the dingiest bar in Key West. After waiting far longer than a bride should ever have to wait for anything on her wedding day, the bartender made his way over to us and started pouring the shots. Yummy! As we left, we were all surrounded by pirates and forced into another fantastic photo op. Snap Snap!

We finally made it back to the ceremony site with not a moment to lose. We weren’t able to make it to the rehearsal, but luckily for us, the videographers were.  They helped guide the set up in a way that allowed for the best light and ease of movement.  They also were a great company (Ever Clear Productions) to work side by side with.  Check them out if you’re in the market for a wedding video:  we were It was a very nice ceremony on a beach and even Krystle’s uncle was the officiant. They timed it perfectly with the sunset and the images were lit beautifully. Immediately following their wedding, Nate & I quickly shot the formal family photos as everybody else started to let loose for cocktail hour.  It was a sweet way to get a party going and a good indication of where the night was headed.  They were all in great spirits and nicely primed up for their dinner and some serious celebration.

The Reception was being held at the Old Town Manor and it was set up beautifully.  Several different stations of food were strategically placed along the brick covered grounds.  And aside from the buffet stations, bar, and dinner tables, there were also several palm trees throughout and even a koi pond.  Needless to say, there wasn’t a great deal of space.  That said, it is even more remarkable how they managed to arrange it all and still leave room for a dance floor.

Once dinner was over, the party began.  As I watched this close knit group of friends & family, I was amazed at how much they reminded me of my own.  They all took part and you could really tell they all meant a great deal to each other.  Even Krystle’s grandfather took part in the celebration.  He wasn’t going to let something as trivial as his wheelchair prevent him from dancing.

It was a great experience for Nate & I and we are so thankful that Krystle & Kevin chose us to be document such an important day in their lives.  I look forward to staying in touch.  Heck, maybe we’ll just make it an annual trip to Key West in their honor.