Luke and Kelly’s Northwest Square wedding in DeLand, Florida was colorful, playful, wonderfully personal, and completely centered around the people they love most. From a relaxed Lemonade Hour and reception games to little nods to their theater days and a ribbon-wand exit surrounded by their favorite people, this was one of those wedding days where you could tell pretty quickly: these two weren’t interested in doing things simply because that’s how weddings are usually done.

And I loved that about it.

Kelly told me before the wedding that they wanted the day to feel relaxed, fun and carefree. She may have even used the word “frolic.” 😂

And somehow, that really is the perfect word for it.

Their wedding wasn’t about putting on a perfectly polished event. It was about creating a day where their friends and family could laugh, play, talk, eat, celebrate and genuinely enjoy being together.

And that’s exactly what happened.

A Wedding Day Filled With Personality

Luke and Kelly have a shared love of theater, and little pieces of that history found their way throughout the day. There were also touches inspired by the Regency era and Pride and Prejudice—but rather than turning their wedding into a full-blown theme, those influences simply became part of the personality of the day.

It felt whimsical without feeling overdone.

And you could see that personality from the very beginning of the day. Kelly hanging out on the porch with her flower girls…

her bridesmaids recreating their own version of the Abbey Road walk in front of Northwest Square…

Luke throwing on his jacket—and then promptly getting dipped by his best man for a photo. 😂 There was plenty of laughter before the ceremony even began.

A Northwest Square Wedding Ceremony

One of the things I love about photographing a wedding at Northwest Square is how much character the building brings to the photographs.

The historic church in downtown DeLand has soaring ceilings, tall windows, stained glass and beautiful architectural details that make the ceremony space feel grand without losing the intimacy of having everyone gathered together.

But the building wasn’t what made Luke and Kelly’s ceremony memorable.

Their people did.

*

The reactions. The laughter. The little glances across the room. The moments happening between the moments everyone expects to see photographed.

Those are always some of my favorites.

*

*

Because years from now, I don’t just want a couple to remember where everyone stood or what the room looked like. I want their photographs to bring back the people who were there and how it actually felt to have them surrounding you.

And Luke and Kelly were surrounded by people who were very happy to see these two get married.

*

*

Portraits That Actually Felt Like Luke & Kelly

After the ceremony, we stepped outside Northwest Square for portraits around the property.

*

And this is where their personalities really got to come out.

There was walking. Laughing. A little wandering around the landscaping. And yes… possibly some actual frolicking and ice cream eating.

*

This is also why I love getting to know my couples before the wedding day.

*

I don’t want wedding portraits to feel like an hour-long photo shoot where I’m constantly arranging every hand, chin and foot into the “perfect” position. I’ll absolutely give direction when it’s needed, but I’d much rather give a couple something to do together and let the real reaction happen from there.

*

I don’t want wedding portraits to feel like an hour-long photo shoot where I’m constantly arranging every hand, chin and foot into the “perfect” position. I’ll absolutely give direction when it’s needed, but I’d much rather give a couple something to do together and let the real reaction happen from there.

Because the goal isn’t for you to look like someone else’s wedding photos.

The goal is for you to look at them and think, “Yep. That’s us.”

And these two made that pretty easy.

Lemonade Hour, Games and a Reception Designed Around Their People

Instead of immediately moving into a traditional cocktail hour, Luke and Kelly planned a Lemonade Hour, another little choice that made their Northwest Square wedding feel completely their own.

And their reception carried that same idea forward.

*

There were games, activities and little stations where guests could actually sit down and do something together. People made things. They played cards. They talked. They laughed.

*

There were speeches and stories, plenty of laughter, and eventually dancing… but the reception never felt like it was trying to follow a checklist of Things You Are Supposed To Do At A Wedding.

It felt more like Luke and Kelly had asked:

“What would our people actually enjoy?”

And then planned around the answer.

I wish more couples gave themselves permission to do that.

You don’t have to include a wedding tradition because you’ve seen it at every other wedding. And you don’t have to skip something you love because it isn’t what everyone else does.

Some of the most memorable weddings I’ve photographed are the ones where the couple stopped asking what a wedding should look like and started asking what would make the day feel like them.

Luke and Kelly did exactly that.

The Perfect Ending to a Very Luke & Kelly Wedding

And then came the ribbon wands.

Their guests gathered outside Northwest Square, ribbons flying everywhere as Luke and Kelly made their way through the middle, stopping for a kiss before walking out hand-in-hand and absolutely beaming.

No sparklers required.

It was colorful. Very joyful.

And completely them.

Which, really, feels like the perfect way to describe their entire wedding day.

Luke and Kelly, thank you for trusting Andrew and me to document all of it… the big moments, the tiny ones, the laughter, the people you love and, of course, the frolicking.

Congratulations, you two!

Planning Your Own Northwest Square Wedding?

If you’re planning a wedding at Northwest Square in DeLand—or anywhere throughout Central Florida—and you’re looking for photography that feels joyful, natural and true to who you are, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.

My approach combines plenty of guidance when you need it with space for the real moments to unfold, so your wedding photographs don’t just show what your day looked like, they bring you back to how it felt.

Get in touch to see if your wedding date is available here!

Luke & Kelly’s Wedding Vendor Team

A huge thank you to the wonderful vendor team who helped bring Luke and Kelly’s Northwest Square wedding to life!

Venue: Northwest Square
Planning: River City Events
Florals: Mad Oddities
Wedding Dress Alterations: Lewis Home and Bridal
Photography: H Hawkins Photography