They looked at each other with so much love and mutual admiration in their eyes. And no, I’m not talking about the bride and her groom just yet — I’m talking about the bride and her mother. Claire looked like she was smiling back tears; Sandra looked like the pride and excitement and joy were almost too much to endure, because when she looked at her little girl in her flowing gown and veil, she still saw her little girl.

Later, Claire and Bill looked at each other with just as much love as they walked along the banks of Lake Eola. Bill reminisced about the moment, just an hour or two before, when he’d first seen Claire come through the doors at First Presbyterian on her father’s arm. “She looked perfect,” he said. She just smiled, and he brushed a kiss across her cheek.

That night, after the party had ended, Danny and I drove away from The Rosalind Club, exhausted and delighted from the long wedding day. At the stoplight, I looked out my window — and there were Claire and Bill, taking one more celebratory lap around the block in their horse-drawn carriage. Claire held a glass of champagne, and she was laughing, smiling just as wide as her cheeks would let her. Her parents’ little girl. Her husband’s perfect bride. A very, very happy woman.

Claire and Bill, we loved every minute of your beautiful day.The morning started at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Orlando, where Claire and her bridesmaids relaxed and primped in a suite with the doors flung wide open to let in the incredible October air.Isn’t Sandra’s Mother of the Bride dress amazing? Claire and her father insisted on it.A couple stories below, Bill got ready with his groomsmen in another suite, then headed down to the lobby for the guys’ portraits.Once we arrived at the church, with her bridesmaids in their gorgeous Amsale dresses, her flower girl wearing her floral halo, and the beautiful bouquets in the background, Claire slipped into her gown.We headed outside to the prayer garden for a few portraits of the gorgeous girls. Oh, Claire, Claire, Claire. Amazing.In the meantime, Bill and the guys were stashed in another room in the church to make sure they wouldn’t see the bride. Danny took that opportunity to get a few more pictures with them.Before the guests arrived, Danny slipped into the grand sanctuary.And then — the ceremony.Officially Mr. and Mrs.!

There was only one photo Claire specifically requested: she wanted a shot of the two of them making their way out the back of the church and down the steps, recreating a picture from the wedding of her mother’s dear friend, who was married at the same church in the 1960s.Oh, hey, incredibly dashing bridal party. Then we were off to Lake Eola for some quick portraits of Claire and Bill. We arrived just before the sun dipped behind the Orlando skyline — and just as another wedding ceremony was starting overlooking the lake. I have to be honest: I took one look at Claire and Bill through my camera’s viewfinder, and I thought how happy I was to be photographing no other couple but them!Now really — could these two have been any more wonderful?We could have stayed there, happily photographing them until the sky was dark, but we had a party to get to, just on the other side of the lake at The Rosalind Club. And it was one beautiful party! Please enjoy all this goodness vicariously! Claire wanted a slightly vintage-Victorian feel to her reception at the Rosalind Club. I’d say that is exactly what she got. From the table setup to the understated cake from Anna Cakes to the delicious buffet from Arthur’s Catering to venue itself, the reception was just beautiful.After they made their grand entrance, Claire and Bill went straight into their first dance, to “Marry Me.”Then came the father-daughter and mother-son dances.Then it was time to dance the night away! Even though Claire was yet another bride who insisted to us that she was pretty sure her dance floor wouldn’t be packed. . . .For their grand exit, Claire and Bill were leaving in a horse and carriage, while their guests waved them into their new life with the tinkling of little bells.Want to see even more? Watch their slideshow! (We recommend watching it in 720p for highest viewing quality.)

Claire and Bill, thank you so much for trusting us to be a part of your wedding day! We were so, so glad to be there, and can’t wait to see what’s in store for you two! Much love.

~ Laura

Vendors:

Photography: Laura Yang Photography
Getting Ready Venue: Embassy Suites Downtown Orlando
Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church of Orlando
Reception Venue: The Rosalind Club
Bride’s Gown: Watters, purchased at Solutions Bridal Designer House
Bride’s Shoes: Ann Taylor
Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale
Hairstyling: Yvette Husty from Primp
Makeup: Debra Lowe
Groom and Groomsmen’s Tuxes: Jos. A Bank
Flowers: Sherry Krawczyk
Catering: Arthur’s Catering
Cake:  Anna Cakes
Invitations: Maureen H. Hall Stationary and Invitations
Ceremony Venue Coordinator: Susan Somerville at First Presbyterian
Reception Coordinator: Michelle Hunan at The Rosalind Club
Entertainment: The Z Street Band