A Wedding Rooted in Tampa Bay Family History

Some weddings belong somewhere. For Keri and Jacob, it was obvious.

They met while attending the University of South Florida, graduated in 2021, and both have deep ties to Tampa Bay. But the biggest reason their wedding felt so rooted here was Espiritu Santo Catholic Church. More than 30 years before Keri walked down that aisle, her parents got married in the exact same church.

I mean, come on. How do you compete with that?

The building itself already feels special. The ceilings stretch high above the pews, natural light pours in through the upper windows, and everything has this warm Spanish character from the wood, cream and pink walls, red tile, stained glass, and darker details throughout the sanctuary. But knowing Keri had grown up in that community and was now getting married where her parents had done the same gave the space even more meaning.

I first connected with Keri and Jacob through Jacob’s family. I had photographed his younger sister Makayla’s graduation photos, and his parents were there cheering her on during the session. When Keri and Jacob got engaged, his family passed my information along with a very kind recommendation.

When we eventually sat down to talk about their wedding, they told me something that stuck with me.

They didn’t want to worry about how the day would be remembered.

They wanted to enjoy it, trust me to see it in my own way, and know that when everything was over they would have photographs that brought it all back.

That is a huge amount of trust to hand someone. That trust means everything to me – it’s a real connection between people.

So over the next year, Keri and I sent inspiration back and forth, talked through ideas, and eventually sat down to build the actual timeline for the day. I created a full day-of schedule they could share with the wedding party and vendors so everybody knew where we needed to be and when. The creative part of photography is always exciting, but being able to give people confidence before I ever pick up the camera is just as important to me.

A Traditional Catholic Ceremony at Espiritu Santo Church

The wedding weekend started with their rehearsal at Espiritu Santo, followed by dinner with family and friends at Flamestone Grill. That rehearsal was actually incredibly helpful for me too. It was my first time photographing a Catholic wedding, so getting to see the ceremony flow beforehand meant I could learn the space, understand the limitations, and start planning where I wanted to be before the real thing began.

The wedding morning started at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa.

Keri’s bridesmaids had neighboring rooms with a shared living space, which gave us plenty of room for getting-ready photos, details, and some of the quieter moments before everything picked up speed. Jacob had gifted Keri a pearl necklace that she wore throughout the day, and we made sure to photograph it along with the rings and all the little pieces that would eventually become part of the memory.

Keri had one request she felt strongly about: Jacob would see her for the first time at the altar.

No first look between them after they got ready. She wanted that moment to belong completely to the ceremony. 

So, instead, we did first looks with her bridesmaids and her dad, then made our way to the church. I stole Jacob for a few portraits beforehand and found a nursery behind the church filled with plants, vines, and cacti that gave us this unexpectedly beautiful backdrop for his photos.

Then it was ceremony time.

The ceremony lasted about an hour and included the traditions of a Catholic mass, from prayer to communion. Afterward, we had a little time inside the church for portraits before heading outside with the wedding party.

Quiet Church Moments, Electric Reception Energy

From there, the mood shifted – very quickly. There was a party bus with a dancing pole. 

There were hors d’oeuvres everybody desperately needed. There was a miniature cannon to officially start the reception. There were speeches, tears, dances, country music, classic rock, cowboy boots, and parents surprising Keri and Jacob with a choreographed dance. Basically, it was a completely personal experience, built around them – and I got to save it all.

Also, the worm.

Three separate people did the worm that night.

I did not put that on the timeline.

When I reflect on it, that contrast is probably what I remember most about their wedding. The quiet, sacred feeling inside the church and the absolute joy of the reception afterward. Both were completely true to them.

Keri and Jacob later told me that looking through their photographs and wedding album feels like getting to relive the day. They specifically mentioned how the photos carry them from the quiet moments in the church all the way to the “electric vibes” on the dance floor.

That’s what I hope wedding photography can do. A photograph remembers the room, the light, the dress and the people standing beside you.

But the best ones remember something more.

They remember how it felt.

Testimonial

“Ky photographed our wedding, and we could not have asked for anyone better! Ky and Ari went above and beyond to make sure every moment of our special day was captured beautifully. We’re beyond happy with how beautiful our wedding photos turned out. He truly captured the feelings throughout the day, from the quiet & soft moments in the church to the electric vibes on the dance floor! Looking through our photos and wedding album curated to perfection by Ky feels like we get to relive the day all over again. Ky is great to communicate with, professional, talented & made us and all our friends and family feel comfortable infront of the camera. We will cherish these photos for the rest of our lives and I’m so happy we trusted Ky to capture them!”

– Keri and Jacob