The Root Photography Blog

They first met in Orlando, as interns on the Disney College Program!! The very first day they went to the parks together, a character asked us if they were together, and they burst out in nervous giggles. Four years later, they were planning their wedding day!

Lindsay and Cody’s relationship was definitely put through it- once their internship was finished, they spent 3(!!!) years in a long distance relationship while they finished their degrees. They still found ways to vacation together, mutually falling in love with each other’s families. Before long, they were engaged, finally living together, and planning a Disney wedding…. until a pandemic came along.

With Disney weddings in a holding pattern for a few months, Lindsay and Cody ended up having an elopement in South Carolina and then moving their wedding date, and eventually the big celebration, to San Antonio. We were honored they still wanted us to be a part of the day and were thrilled to still photograph their celebration!!

It really was one of those days I couldn’t picture any other way. Lindsay found a DREAM of a wedding venue, The Preserve at Canyon Lake, that I wish I could scoop up and move to Central Florida. The house was so spacious and had the most glorious natural light, all sitting on a lake and surrounded by mature trees… it was almost like the venue was built by a photographer! Lindsay and Cody had a Hercules-inspired event with sweet touches from their invitations to their wedding cake, but my favorite was the floral. Their designer at Blume Haus Floral completely transformed the reception space to feel like I was walking into the garden where Megara sang “I Won’t Say I’m in Love.”

Lindsay and Cody, we love you both and hope to see you again soon!!!

Thank you to this phenomenal team for such a beautiful day!!

Venue | The Preserve at Canyon Lake

Wedding Coordinator | Ashley Rust

Hair & Makeup | Lily Flower Hair and Makeup

Entertainment | Toast Entertainment

Videographer | Toast Entertainment

Floral Designer | Blume Haus Floral

Wedding Dress | Hayley Paige Markle from Kleinfelds

Bridesmaids Dresses | Azazie

Groom Attire | Men’s Wearhouse

Cake Designer | 2Tarts Bakery

Stationery | Jennifer Lauren Papery

Catering | Heavenly Gourmet Catering

The Preserve at Canyon Lake Wedding — Jumping the broom

She’s “friends” with Disney royalty, he’s one of my all-time favorite Disney park photographers (click here to go drool over his portfolio!) and they’re just as kind as they are beautiful. Shortly after Mark proposed to Hope, he mentioned wanting us to be their wedding photographers, and I think my first response was, “Are you sure?!?!?” It’s been a while since I’ve been so nervous and excited to photograph a wedding day, but if Nate’s photos from their engagement session are any indication, Hope and Mark are certainly going to make our job easy. 🤍
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I first discovered Hope when the pandemic was still fresh and scary and one of the few things that brought me true comfort was the release of Taylor Swift’s Folklore album. I had never been a “Swiftie” in the past, but this album brought me so much peace the hundreds of times I played it in 2020. This was also the time when Haute by Hope showed up in my Instagram feed, and I saw this woman sharing her adventures in learning to sew, and she just happened to be sewing dresses inspired by songs on Folklore. To this day I can’t choose a favorite, but it’s safe to say I’ve been one of her biggest fans ever since discovering her talent and passion for my favorite hobby!

Given that little backstory, I think it was around that time I learned that Mark and Hope were dating and I thought, “Oh, yep, that seems just about right!” Mark Willard and Tom Bricker are household names for us because of their amazing Disney park photography, and we often share their latest posts with each-other. Mark and Hope are the epitome of a power couple to me and I can’t wait to see what they tackle next- This much beauty, creativity, and talent shouldn’t be allowed in one family but thankfully they seem like genuinely kind hearted people so I’ll allow it. ;)

Mark proposed to Hope after a night out seeing The Nutcracker (let’s all just take a moment to collectively swoon here, ok?). So it wasn’t at all a surprise when they were brainstorming session locations with Nate, that the phrase “off duty Parisian ballerina” was thrown out and I knew juuuuust the place- the Ringling Museum in Sarasota! I thought the blush walls would be perfect and sure enough- they weren’t allowing any session bookings.

THEN I remembered a wedding we photographed a decade or so ago in Miami at Vizcaya. It required a road trip for sure but I certainly think it hit the spot- This place is like Paris meets a Taylor Swift music video and well, I think you can see how it all tied together quite nicely in the end. <3

I am counting the daaaaays until we have the honor of photograph their wedding day!!

Until then, enjoy my favorite Nate shoot of 2022!!