I was delighted to find out that I was chosen for the Times of The Islands Wedding magazine cover.
Picky and Sarah were the Bride and Groom. They got married at the beautiful Casa Ybel Resort located here on Sanibel Island.
When I asked Pikey how they met and she shared: “We both work in the car business, Pikey’s family owns a dealership and my family owns a car auction. He had been coming to the auction for many years. He says I always looked at him, but in reality it was always him looking over at me, and he is such a wuss one time a co-worker of his asked me for my number for Pikey. I gave it to him and he called me and the rest is history.” A great and unique story. I also asked Sarah to share her wedding plans and what she thought would make their event unique, this is what she said, “We love Sanibel Island, so we wanted to be on the grass but right beside the water. We wanted the island theme for our close family and friends, it was beautiful, classy, but most of all fun.” she added: Steve played beautiful music, (referring to Steve Farst, a phenomenal local musician) the food was delicious. Everyone there was beautiful.
I could not have done it without Sarah and Pikey. A terrific couple. Sarah had put a lot of planning into this wedding (along with the amazing, Tori Weatherford, of Casa Ybel Resort) and it showed. They chose to have their ceremony on the Lawn, followed by a tented reception located right next to the ceremony site.
Casa Ybel Resort is one of the few places on the Islands that can accommodate a tented venue at a beach wedding. If you can time it right, with the weather, there is no better way to have a reception. Fall and spring are typically the best times, the temperature is normally in the 70’s with low humidity. The lawn area at Casa Ybel is made up of Bermuda grass, which is normally reserved for golf courses here in Florida. Not a big deal you think? Well… it kinda is. It takes a lot more effort to look after than the usual St Augustine variety. Bermuda grass is so soft, it is really fine, it feels great on your feet. St Augustine looks very nice but it has huge blades and is more like a thick mat of grass, not as soft. And as they say: ‘it’s all in the details’
You can see in the picture below that Sarah and Pikey opted to have the sides of the tent rolled up which is a great idea as it lets the breeze flow through. This particular tent is really well designed (this one is owned by the resort). Should the wind pick up or the temperature suddenly drop the sides of the tent can be dropped to the ground in a matter of minutes.
I digress!
Here are a list of all of the contributors that made this wedding magazine cover possible:
If you do not have a few minutes to read the following post about the Sanibel tolls and the surrounding areas, consider this a QuickStart Guide to the toll charges and info for the Sanibel and Captiva Causeway.
Tolls for Cars: $6
Tolls for Motorcycles: $2
Bicycles are Free
Larger vehicles: $3 per axle
There is no charge to leave the island.
The causeway is open 24/7/365
You can use the statewide Sunpass transponder but you will be charged the full amount. Discount passes are available for locals at The Leeway Center.
If you do not have money or a transponder you can choose to go through the toll without stopping. Your license plate will be photographed and a bill will be sent to you for approximately $10. If you are in a rental car, the rental company may charge additional fees for collecting the payment.
Bicycles are allowed over the causeway. It is a stunning view and I would strongly recommend it! However I would not recommend it for young kids. The easement on the side of the road is wide but the barriers are fairly low.
The Causeway is 2.8 miles long consisting of two islands and three spans
QuickStart Guide over ….
Park under the Sanibel Causeway is a great spot to watch the sunset
The area around Punta Rassa and the Sanibel tolls:
When you visit Sanibel and Captiva you will inevitably have to drive across the 2.8 mile long Sanibel causeway. Before you get to the Sanibel tolls, you will approach along Summerlin Road. On your way you will pass the historical Bunche Beach and The Sanibel Outlet Mall (formally The Tanger Outlet Mall). Drive a little further and you reach Shell Point Retirement Community. I make this trip a couple of times a day (see the video of my motorcycle commute below) and this is how this blog post transpired: I was on my way to the studio the other morning and there are several billboards on the approach to Sanibel. At the entrance to Shell Point Retirement Community there are two billboards on opposite sides of Summerlin Road, I realized that I photographed both! Two separate businesses, one promoting the Shell Point Retirement Community and the other for the new Japanese Steakhouse called Shima, located at The Sundial Resort on Sanibel. That’s a first… ‘how cool’ I casually thought 🙂 But then I started thinking about all of the REALLY interesting things that happen on the last few miles of Summerlin Road, the area right before you get to the Sanibel Causeway and the toll booths. The area commercially coined ‘The Gateway to Sanibel’. I thought I would share some local knowledge of the area that I live and share some info that I think you may find interesting and useful.
Sanibel Toll Booth, three lanes onto the Island, one off. Right two lanes are cash only. Head through the left (yellow lane) if you have a transponder.
Punta Rassa is the area where the toll booths and the boat ramp are located. Named by the Spanish Conquistadors in the mid-16th Century (Punta Rasca, later changed to Punta Rassa, means ‘smooth’ or ‘flat point’ in Spanish). In the 1800s it was used by ranchers to load their livestock onto boats for export to Cuba. It was also the home of the Sanibel Ferry before the causeway was built in 1963. In 1898 Punta Rassa was the location for one of the main communication links between USA and Cuba. It was in the form of a telegraph cable that stretched about 160 miles along the seabed to Cuba. This telegraph was instrumental in the start of the Spanish-American War. A message was sent from Cuba that the USS Maine had been attacked in Havana Harbor, this caused outrage in the USA, which subsequently started the war.
The Punta Rassa boat ramp with the Sanibel Causeway in the background
A couple of miles before you get to the Sanibel Tolls via Summerlin Road you will pass John Morris Road. If you take a left down John Morris you will find Bunche Beach. Bunche Beach was at one time designated a ‘Coloreds Only’ beach. It is named after Ralph Bunche the first African American to win a Noble Peace Prize. Fortunately, it has come a long way since those days. It is a great spot to walk or hang out (as I’m sure it was back then). It has great views of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel and you can walk about a mile to your left and about a half mile to your right. The whole area has been given a makeover recently, with improved parking and a building with facilities. You can also rent paddle boards and kayaks at Kayak Excursions. They are located at a concession stand about halfway along John Morris Road on the right hand side. The kayaking is phenomenal, not overcrowded with plenty of wildlife to see. The water in this area is part of The Great Calusa Blueway. I often take my kids to Bunche Beach for a sunset walk (see the video below). It’s great for kids at low tide; shallow pools, shells, and lots of marine life to be caught in nets.Bunche_beach_sunset
The area to the left of Summerlin Road along the final mile approach to the Sanibel Tolls is perfect for fishing! It’s not very obvious but take a look at high tide and you will see lots of locals wading out onto the grass flats (preferred hideout of sea trout and other species) Its like going ‘back-bay fishing’ without the need for a charter boat! You will need a fishing license if you are not a Florida Resident. Look for gaps in the foliage and you will see where people park. Want a real Florida fishing experience? Get an awesome custom rod made by local fisherman Dan James at Dan James Custom Rods. Just around the corner from Punta Rassa is the preferred tackle shop of locals and guides, Andersons Tackle Inc located on McGregor Blvd, it has the gear the fishing guides use, quality products like Calusa cast nets, not the touristy junk that a lot of stores carry. Need a spot of lunch? head over the road to The Crackerbox Resteraunt , the second oldest restaurant in Fort Myers. Nothing fancy, just real Florida. If you are the sort of person that would not want to wait for your server to finish singing Karaoke before getting you a beer, this may not be the place for you:)
The famous Cracker Box Restaurant on McGregor Boulevard
For all you shoppers out there The Sanibel Outlet Mall is a hot favorite. Located just a couple of miles before the Sanibel tolls and causeway at the intersection of Mcgregor and Summerlin. It is a great place to hit after an early checkout or on your way to the island. Shops include: Polo, Coach, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Sunglass Hut, Gap etc .
Lastly, The Sanibel Causeway has to be among the most beautiful journeys in the world, enjoy the view, take a deep breath and savor:) The best thing about it is, you have to do it all over again when you leave…. or maybe not:)
Sunset from the boat ramp at Punta RassaSundials, Shima Restaurant billboardShell Point Retirement billboard
I was at the Florida Rep Theatre and had the pleasure of photographing the show running now, ‘Becky’s New Car’. It’s a phenomenal show! So good that I think everyone should have a chance to see it! To help you do that, we are going to be doing a ticket giveaway for FREE Florida Rep Tickets starting on Saturday, March 26, 2016 through Friday, April 1, 2016. (No, this is not an April Fools joke:) ) All you need to do is email the studio (nick@nickadamsphotogtraphy.com) with your name and we will have a daily drawing for the winning tickets. The tickets are for two people and are valid for all of the remaining performances at The Florida Rep’s Historic Arcade Theatre and its smaller sibling The Artstage Studio Theatre. The tickets are valid until May 8th, 2016. (Please only enter if you are able to use them.)
The Gulf Coasting section of The News-Press newspaper, ran an excellent article written by Charles Runnels about the history behind the show (an incredible story itself)
Charles Runnels writes:
“Charles Staadecker considered lots of things for his wife’s 60th birthday present: Jewelry, perhaps. Or maybe a new car. But nothing seemed right.
Whatever he got her, he knew, it had to be something special. You only turn 60 once.
Finally, he found his gift.
And it was a doozy.
Sure, Charles just could have bought tickets to see a play. Anyone could do that. But wouldn’t it be better if he actually bought a play?
So that’s what he did: He commissioned a brand-new play that eventually became the comedy “Becky’s New Car.”
And it’s the gift that’s kept on giving, year after year. “Becky’s New Car” quickly became a national hit with four productions in Southwest Florida, alone, including a new one at Florida Repertory Theatre in downtown Fort Myers.”
Fort Myers Photographer, Nick Adams heads down south to the stunning Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club located on beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, heres what he had to say:
The reception setting on the beach at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
I do not find myself in Naples that often as we are so busy in the local area but this was an exception. The bride’s Mother, Vicki, had done some research and picked me to be her daughters wedding photographer. For that, I am very thankful. Add in the fact that Vicki is herself a professional photographer so it goes without saying, if one of your peers recommends you, it is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a photographer. I am not going to lie, it also adds a tiny bit of pressure. I always get a couple of butterflies before a wedding, even after doing 1000+ of them, this just adds a couple more. I have had photographers recommend me in the past and although I am always flattered. I am also very mindful to be 110% on the day. Well I’m glad to say it all went well.
The setting was fantastic, the ceremony itself took place on the beach at the most southerly part of the property.
The reception was at the northern point of the property outside on the lawn of The Naples Beach Hotel.
After the first dance and a couple of toasts Monica (the Bride), Cam (the groom) and I headed to the beach for sunset pictures.
Although the lawn is a stunning setting once the sun goes down the lawn becomes dark. I tried a few new techniques with my Canon 600 series flashes to overcome the very (very, very) dark dance floor and it looked awesome:)
After dinner we had the Father-Daughter dance and the Mother-Son dance followed by fun and frivolities:)
I do too!
The biggest difference between shooting a wedding in Naples, Fort Myers or Sanibel is………. nothing:) , it’s the same sunset, the same water, similar sand, same lighting. What makes each wedding unique is the people! and these people were awesome:)
Beach photographer Nick Adams recently did a fantastic wedding at South Seas Island Resort. Here is what he had to say about it:
Kaia and Dave met on Match.com. Yes, it really works! Dave had been on the site for a while, but it was Kasia’s first time. A majority of Kasia’s friends were married off or about to be, so her best friend signed her up. Kasia had been on the site for about two months before she started talking to Dave. Long story short, Dave was the first and only guy she ever dated on Match.com.
Now for the big day! Kasia and Dave got married at Sunset Cove in the South Seas Island Resort. The theme was simple and elegant. Kasia’s main concern was she wanted everyone dancing, so she hired this AMAZING 11 piece band called The Headliners. This band really knew how to keep the party going.
“Married life is great! I just booked our honeymoon to the Dominican Republic! And we’re going through all our pictures! Finally, I got time last night to start the slideshow, we’re half way through… finishing up tonight. We LOVE them! Thank you SOOO much!”
It wasn’t that long ago that couples meeting online was rare, if not somewhat embarrassing for the couples concerned but nowadays it is commonplace. Beach photographer Nick Adams said: The first wedding I did for an online couple was so extraordinary that they requested emojicons be put throughout their album. I will never forget it, the groom, Marcelo was from Argentina and the bride was from the US. Neither of them particularly liked the ‘bar scene’ or the traditional methods of meeting people, so online dating was the perfect fit. They used Yahoo Personals which was the predecessor to Match.com. I can happily say… they are still married today and they will be celebrating their 10 year anniversary this coming Valentines day (2016). Marcelo and I share a passion for motorcycles and we are still friends to this day. In fact I am doing a multigenerational portrait session this week of Maura’s family. Cheers to online dating…. it works!
Beautiful flowers by ‘Isn’t she lovely”Proud Dad!Dr Dan Lamey and the exchange of ringsCongrats!One happy couple!!!BridesmaidsGroomsman!The Wedding Party!Sea OatsRobin’ it!The amazingly talented HeadlinersGrand EntranceWatch Me dip… watch me nay nay 🙂Bobble Heads and the delicious Bubble Room CakeKiller band and a great night!Sparkler exit
