Licia and Ben’s Madison Beach Hotel micro wedding took place on an absolutely perfect summer day in July. Like so many couples this year, they were planning a bigger celebration but 2020 forced them to change their plans. However, they didn’t want to wait to be married, so they decided to move forward with a micro wedding this summer and are planning a larger anniversary celebration on their exact one-year date next summer. If this summer’s intimate wedding was any indication, their celebration next summer is going to be one for the books!

bride and groom on beach at sunset

Getting Ready at the Madison Beach Hotel

Licia and Ben were just down the hall from each other at the Madison Beach Hotel for getting ready. The ladies prepped and had hair and makeup done in cute blue satin robes before getting into their pale lavender dresses for the ceremony. Licia looked stunning in her lace-covered gown that her mom helped her into. Once she was ready, she opened a note and gift from Ben that brought happy tears to her eyes. Ben and the groomsmen wore blue summer suits that worked perfectly with the ocean setting. He couldn’t help but smile from ear-to-ear as he read his card from Licia. I’m not sure what the cards said, but they both commented on how they started them in almost exactly the same way! Before the ceremony Ben and Licia decided to do a first touch. They didn’t want to see each other, but couldn’t wait to talk to each other and hold hands, so we arranged for them to do just that around a corner of the hotel hallway. They chatted for about 5 minutes and calmed each other’s nerves before they headed down to the ceremony to get married.

Madison Beach Hotel Micro Wedding Ceremony

Licia and Ben’s ceremony was held right on the beach with the ocean as their backdrop. A few beach goers even stopped on their paddle boards off shore to witness them saying “I do”! Ben and Licia decided to be walked down the aisle by both of their parents and it was so sweet to see them arm-in-arm, mom and dad on either side, invited in to support their children in such a special way. They had loved ones give readings and they even had their sweet dog involved in the ceremony. She hung out in the shade of the bridesmaids dresses as her “pawrents” exchanged their vows. Licia and Ben decided to write their own vows and I don’t think there was a dry eye on the beach when they were done reciting them to each other. Micro weddings are such a great opportunity to make things more personal and more intimate and it was wonderful to see Licia and Ben embrace those opportunities throughout their ceremony.

Newlywed Portraits On the Beach

After the ceremony we spent some time creating portraits together on the beach. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky and the light was more and more beautiful. Licia and Ben are absolute naturals in front of the camera. They are so in love and so enamored of each other that they simply get lost in each other and make my job really easy. I’ve rarely had a couple so relaxed and fit so well together. Every look these two give each other makes their love manifest and it speaks to the incredible relationship they have. As the sun set they snuggled close and breathed deeply and let the fact that they were now husband and wife set in as they watched the sun drop over the water.

Madison Beach Hotel Micro Wedding Reception

Licia and Ben’s family and the handful of friends in attendance were all amazing. They were so happy, so full of love, so excited, and brought so much positive energy to the day. They held their first dance under the tent to kick off the dinner portion of the evening. Licia’s Dad is a hot ticket and he had everyone cracking up during his toast. Ben’s dad shared the sweetest story of how his own marriage began and how happy he was for Ben to have found Licia. Then dinner was served as the sun began to slowly set. After dinner, the party transitioned to a bonfire with s’mores through a sparkler exit from the tent. Congratulations you two! I can’t wait to celebrate with you again next summer! XO