Martina & Tyler | Focus Photography at Paradise Banquet Hall

It was finally today. Martina and Tyler were getting married! I was so stoked to be their photographer again. I was more than ready to document everything they asked me to cover. To get started, I woke up bright and early and arrived at Martina’s house where she was getting ready with her family.

By the time I had gotten there, she was already in her wedding gown. Her hair was in waves and she had an off-shoulder, tight gown that pooled at her feet. I had her take pictures with some of her family instead.

First, I asked her sister to join us and helped out with fixing certain details with Martina’s gown from the back. Once we were done, I had her mom come in and put on her veil for her. It was such a sweet moment between the girls.

Right before we were set to leave, her dad had so much to say to her baby girl. And they gifted her a beautifully crested pin with pearls and pictures. This just made her mom burst into tears. Admittedly, I was trying my best to hold in my tears as well. I asked them if we could take photos of just the three of them, which they agreed to.

Martina stood right in the middle and her parents kissed her sweetly on the cheek. And that just reminded me how no matter how much a person grows, they are still considered a baby in their parents’ eyes. As Martina smiled, she looked like a kid who was still dreaming about her wedding day, and who she imagined to have it with.

Once I got the green light, I packed everything up and rushed to the Novotel Hotel where Tyler and his groomsmen were. Tyler already didn’t want anything too extravagant for his pictures. So, instead, I had him simply stand right by the window and just act as casually as he could. At times, I would ask him to smile at the camera as he buttoned his sleeves, put on his bow tie, and straightened his velvety suit jacket.

Tyler looked a bit jittery the entire time. He was probably so excited to finally marry his best friend in the entire world!

After he got dressed, I had him join his groomsmen. They all sat comfortably around Tyler. For a few pictures, I wanted them to simply smile at the camera. For the remaining shots, I asked them to direct their attention and focus on the groom. As they smiled at him, I could tell that all of their smiles reflected genuine happiness for Tyler. They seemed even proud to be chosen as his groomsmen.

Both the ceremony and reception was held at the Paradise Banquet Hall. There was this buzz in the air as everybody waited for the bride and groom. And all the decorations were kept to a minimum. White flowers lit up the place, and the gold detailing highlighted the aura of the venue more. 

All throughout the ceremony, Martina had those lovey-dovey eyes for Tyler again! Those eyes just know how to get me every time. But on their wedding day, it seemed much more prominent than their engagement photoshoot, which I thought wasn’t possible but there goes Martina again… proving me wrong!

As they finally took their first steps as husband and wife, everybody was clapping and cheering for them. I was celebrating Martina and Tyler along with everybody else. I really did hope that they were able to begin their chapter on their happily ever after.