Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is a local secret for a luxurious wedding day. The getting ready spaces for both the bride and groom are more than the typical locker rooms found at most upscale country clubs; in addition to private windowless locker areas, there is also a wide open casual seating area, with plenty of space for your entire group to get together, relax, and make final preparations while overlooking a tropical paradise. The white, wicker, and palm frond patterned décor has an understated elegance that brings a definitive Palm Beach air to the space, and a dedicated bar with refreshments stays out of the way until needed. The natural daylight in this space is a must for flattering, beautiful getting ready photos, pulling the preparations out of the bathroom and into the light. We highly encourage all of our clients to put some thought into where they are going to get ready for the wedding day; while a basic locker room may seem very practical, in practice it's best to have your makeup done in the type of light you'll be photographed in, which for most wedding days means clear window light. (Pro tip: avoid hotels with extremely tinted windows; the leave an unflattering green cast, which can cause foundation colors to look incorrect once you're outside.)
This image uses the foreground element of an arching branch of orchids to frame the bride shortly after she got dressed; the brilliant magenta contrasts with the soft greens and warm whites, giving a gentle Floridian feel without being too garish. The light from the windows and the arching flowers both draw your eye to the subject, where her sweet smile and nervous hands give away her excitement for the day ahead.
Location: Old Palm Golf Club, 11089 Old Palm Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418.
1/100; f/4.0; ISO 1000; 35.0 mm.