What made the wedding venue special?
Aubrie and Nathan’s wedding was the maiden voyage for The Sanctuary – this was the very first wedding (or event of any kind!) hosted in this amazing venue, recently purchased, converted, and renovated into the stunning venue you see here! This historic church was empty and needing some love, and its conversion into a modern event venue is such a great way to honor the building’s past while growing into the future. Perched high above 9th Avenue, with a view of Pensacola Bay and historic downtown, the venue offers a dramatic sanctuary, complete with original stained glass windows and many other details; this is where Aubrie and Nathan held their ceremony, and then reception. The old basement has been converted into the Deed Restriction, a speakeasy style lounge that oozes cool. The beautiful side yards take full advantage of the Florida sunshine, and it was an honor to photograph the very first wedding in this amazing new space.
What emotions were apparent on the wedding day?
So much happiness. Aubrie and Nathan were so excited to marry one another. It didn’t matter what else was happening – they trusted that everything would come together (which it did, beautifully!), and had laser focus for one another. Their parents were so kind and positive, and it really felt like everyone was just so happy to be there.
What was your favorite detail from the wedding day?
There were so many incredibly beautiful details at this wedding – it’s hard to pick a favorite! The overall aesthetic was tropical luxury, and Fiore did an amazing job with the florals, bursting with color and palms and joy. The specialty cocktails were named after the couple’s cats, which immediately turned me into a puddle. But my favorite was probably a combination of meaningful touches to honor the bride’s late sister. In the most beautiful and celebratory way, she was very much a presence – from the surprise butterfly in Aubrie’s mother’s bouquet, to the bracelet the bride wore representing the bond shared between her and her sister. There were tears and hugs and it was truly a touching testimonial and made me wipe my own eyes more than once.
