Although Kim and I had spoken over the phone numerous times, the first time I saw her was when she sat in a makeup chair at The Spa at Hammock Beach Resort, hidden behind a blush brush. An hour later,  Kim appeared in her wedding gown, and it took some serious effort to keep my jaw from dropping. They say there’s nothing as stunning as a radiant bride on her wedding day, but I beg to differ. A bride doesn’t need to wait for her wedding day to look radiant. All she needs is to be as head-over-heels in love as Kim clearly is with Darin.

Two days before her wedding, we fit a quick bridal session into Kim’s already-packed day (it came directly after her 4-hour trip to Palm Coast from Charleston and right before we shot her engagement portraits!) and I’m so glad Kim was willing to add this to her schedule. I love the opportunity to just admire a bride in her dress, soaking up some of her excessive happiness and preserving it in pictures. And a special thanks to Christa, Amy, and Blake for helping keep her train out of trouble!

As we headed out onto the grounds at Hammock Beach Resort for our photos, tourists parted like the Red Sea in front of Kim. Men rushed to open doors for her. One ceded the elevator to her and her amazing dress. A whole family stopped their game of mini golf to watch her (and, well, to let us take pictures right in the middle of their putting green). Like I said, she looked amazing.
And now for some of my favorite shots ever. The light was incredible, and I love dreamy close-ups on a wide-open 50 mm lens. But seriously — have you ever seen eyes like Kim’s?

See the whole album on Facebook.

Venue: Hammock Beach Resort
Wedding gown:Venus Bridal
Hairstyling and makeup: Jennifer Bissonnette (The Spa at Hammock Beach Resort)

~ Laura