Romantic St. Augustine Wedding | The White Room - Real Couple

Eric and Pat celebrated their romantic St. Augustine wedding at The White Room, a private waterfront wedding venue.

When we saw their amazing images by Vanessa Oppedal Photography, we couldn’t wait to share this couple’s special day.

How did you bring the couple’s vision to life with the services that you provided?

Pat and Eric had such an amazing vision for their romantic St. Augustine wedding day, and I was so excited to bring it to life! They wanted photos that felt lively, natural, and timeless, with a mix of fun, emotional moments and those classic portraits that never go out of style.

When Pat told me they wanted to hit up multiple locations in St. Augustine, I dove right in, researching permits and planning the logistics. Their first look at the Lightner Museum, a stop at Pollard Hall (which is both Eric’s last name and where Pat works!), and portraits at Flagler College and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument gave us this incredible variety of backdrops.

To make it even more special, my second photographer shot film all day. St. Augustine’s rich history is a perfect place for that nostalgic touch, and film was the perfect way to capture it.

What was your favorite personal or design detail that was unique to the couple included in this romantic St. Augustine wedding?

One of my favorite details was the florals. They had such a unique mix of textures that added a special touch to the design of their day. The live band at the reception was another standout.

Not only was their performance incredible, but it also gave the whole evening an energetic, celebratory vibe. I couldn’t help but dance a little while photographing on the sidelines!

On a personal note, Eric and Pat’s personalities shone through in every moment. One funny memory was right before their first look. It was over 90 degrees, and Eric asked if I had a rag. I didn’t, but I offered the bottom of my dress and a water bottle.

He took me up on both!

Note to self: bring a sweat rag to future weddings. But it was such a funny, down-to-earth moment that perfectly reflects their laid-back and joyful personalities.

Tell me more about your roadmap for working with this couple.

I first met Pat in a finance class for entrepreneurs at Daytona State, where she was teaching. When she reached out to me about photographing her wedding, I was so excited! Pat already had a clear vision for her day. She wanted photos at several beautiful spots in St. Augustine and a first look to make sure we had time for family portraits.

As soon as we started planning, I got to work researching permits and creating a timeline to bring her vision to life. We had a planning call before the romantic St. Augustine wedding where we walked through the timeline, talked about the most important moments to capture, and built out a family shot list to keep everything organized.

The weekend started with their rehearsal dinner at Saint Italian Restaurant. It was such a great way to meet their loved ones, get to know their dynamic, and capture the excitement leading up to the big day.

On the romantic St. Augustine wedding day, I started early with all the getting-ready moments and little details. The first look was planned at the Lightner Museum, but we had a surprise challenge construction in the courtyard! We didn’t let it faze us. We communicated with the workers, and I got under the scaffolding to get the best angles, and the photos ended up being absolutely stunning.

We spent the rest of the day visiting incredible locations like Pollard Hall, Flagler College, and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Pollard Hall was especially meaningful since it’s Eric’s last name and where Pat works, making it such a personal part of their story.

Their ceremony at The White Room was beautiful, filled with so much emotion and love. During cocktail hour, I gave them some space to just enjoy the moment together while I captured candids of their guests. The reception was a full-on party with a live band that had everyone on the dance floor. The energy was amazing, and I loved documenting all the fun, love, and joy throughout the evening.

By the end of the night, it was clear that the day had been everything they’d dreamed of, and I couldn’t have been happier to be part of it all.

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

On the wedding day: things are going to go wrong, and that’s okay! Whether it’s construction where you planned your first look or 90-degree heat that makes you sweat through your suit, just go with the flow. The best moments often come from rolling with the unexpected. Build in time to breathe and enjoy the day, and don’t be afraid to sneak away for a moment just the two of you.

For marriage: hold onto the little things. It’s not just about the big milestones, but the everyday moments that make your relationship yours. Those are the memories that matter most.