A stunning beach elopement | The National Hotel | Miami Beach, Florida

Miami Beach, FL | The National Hotel | Ricker Wedding

6/3/2021

Several months ago my best friend of 27 years (gosh that number can't be real 😬) called me up and said "Hey... do you want to go on a vacation, just the 4 of us? We are thinking we might just get married on the trip." UHHH, vacations are my FAVORITE thing and weddings are like my second FAVORITE thing... plus my bestie??? YES PLEASE!! We started making plans right away. However, just like most plans made in 2020, ours ended up changing too. Originally we were headed to Cancun. A month before we were supposed to head out the CDC put in place the policy of testing to get back home. None of us could risk being stuck in Mexico for 3 weeks (although if I had to quarantine that is the place I would choose!!) We ended up pushing their wedding date out a few months and changing our location to be states side. Turned out for other reasons that kept popping up this was the perfect timing and everything turned out beautifully.

the details

Bridal preparations started EARLY! We had decided on an early morning ceremony to catch the sunrise. This meant we needed to be out on the beach by 6:40 am!! I think we made it by 7:00 lol. Sarah wore a stunning flowy gown with a sheer lace bodice and lace up back, gold dangle earrings, and a gorgeous bracelet. Her hair was pinned up at the nape of her neck and finished with a vintage looking jeweled and feathered hair piece. For the ceremony she kept her feet bare and put on gold sandals for photos outside the hotel.

May 16th is a date that will forever be special to Sarah and Keith but it is also Sarah's late grandmother's birthday. This is her grandmother's delicate ring that she wears all the time.

Taking photos with a timer and tripod so you can be in them while trying not to lose the sunrise is a lot more stressful than I thought it would be 😆

the ceremony

Sarah and Keith exchanged vows surrounded by sand, waves, 2 friends (me and the hubs) and a few pedestrians, as the sun started to rise into the sky and the breeze blew Sarah's dress lightly.

Google maps helped us plan the ceremony location... google maps did NOT tell us the Food Network would be having a ginormous white tent and fencing for a food tasting festival the week after we left. The most important tip I can give any bride for their wedding day.... be flexible and roll with whatever happens. In the end you get to marry the love of your life 💕

the rickers

eat, drink, + be married

After dragging our husbands around for portraits, we spent the day relaxing by the gorgeous pool sipping on fruity drinks....seriously this was the most relaxed wedding day I have EVER photographed lol. As dinner time approached we all got dolled up for a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant. Sarah put on her dinner dress matched with a stunning clutch and long feathered earrings MADE for Miami. We snacked on steak tartare (<< this was a first for me...one bite was enough 😆) and a delicious kale + pear salad before our main course of rib eye and a baked dorada arrived. After our meal the couple cut into and shared pieces of a to-die-for carrot cake with cream cheese icing. As we finished the cake it began to pour (I hear it's good luck) so instead of out under the stars as planned we chose a nice DRY area inside the restaurant for the couple to share their first dance.