A backyard wedding surrounded by love, water, and the promise of a new family was all my heart needed.

I was so proud to photograph Camila, a fellow Colombian far from her family and childhood friends. Her custom off-the-shoulder mermaid gown with a cathedral train was made by Maria Teresa Morales in Colombia, a way to feel close to her mother and her homeland.

The setting was pure Florida coast: the Intracoastal in the backyard, the beach out front, a ceremony by the water, and portraits on Daytona Beach as the light softened.

It is a heritage story more than a destination one, and those are some of my very favorite days to photograph.

Want a day like this one? Check your date with Paola.