Florida Rains: How Lauren Alatriste Pivoted to Make Magic on this Rainy Wedding Day

Showing the actual mood of the ceremony space is so important to us. To make sure you actually see the light and feel the vibe, for this indoor, low light setting, I shot with my Fuji GFX50sii. Spot lighting, bright florals done in a moody way, a chandelier with a different color profile than the actual spot light. It can be difficult to capture all these elements and make it look exactly as it was, which is where we shine. Natural lighting on digital for details is always the move to set the scene in our book.

The Vision (Setting the Scene)

From the start, Alexa and Connor brought a clear vision: old school elegance meets spring romance. The dress? Hand-beaded perfection by Michela Ferriero. Petal Productions transformed the space with florals that felt lush and light all at once. And while the weather didn’t cooperate, the rain became a main character in the story: moody, dramatic, romantic.

Photographer: Lauren Alatriste

Gear and Details

Camera Gear: Canon R5 + 35mm 1.4 RF lens (digital quick work), Fuji GFX50sii + 80mm 1.7 (medium format),
Film Gear: Contax G2 + Kodak Portra 800 (35mm film), Holga + Kodak Portra 800 (120 film)
Coverage: 3 Photographers, 10 hours
Location: The Boca Raton, Florida
Couple: Alexa & Connor
Photographer: Lauren Alatriste
Planner: Parker Scott Events

Getting Ready

There’s nothing more basic than girls on a bed with champagne. It’s awkward and feels so overdone. The girls just finished getting their hair and makeup done, so I said, “Who wants some espresso martinis at the bar?!” The drinks even came printed with Alexa’s face (yes, really). It was playful, personal, and gave us images that actually felt like them.

How I Shot This:
Taken on the Canon r5 with the 35mm lens. Profoto A2 for flash. I liked the digital feel of this, getting the exact right moment to show off the excitement.

Knowing the hotel has an old world vibe to it, I requested a bellhop cart ready for me in the room for details. When I arrived, and saw the incredible beadwork in person on the gown, I wanted that to stand out. I chose to shoot this with the Holga and my Contax flash to give an extra glimmer. I don’t usually like static dress shots, but this elevated the cool factor of the gown, and didn’t feel so staged, as it would on a window or chandelier.

The Ceremony

Originally set for outdoors, the ceremony moved inside due to rain, and we’re so glad it did. A chandelier framed the altar, rain fell softly outside, and the couple stood in a spotlight surrounded by lush florals. It was intimate and editorial.

For key moments like the first kiss, we used a hybrid approach: I shot digital while my second shooter captured the moment on film. That blend brought the best of both worlds.

Portraits

After a first look under a covered walkway (thanks again to the RAIN), the portrait plan was derailed by crowds and more weather. Enter: the restaurant, Plan C. Though, Vintage portraits lined the walls so the mood was still just right. We shot with flash on the Contax G2. The result? Portraits that felt effortless, editorial, and uniquely them.

Reception: A Garden in a Ballroom

This reception looked like something out of a dream. The ballroom was transformed into a floral fantasy with subtle lighting and classic elegance. We leaned into natural light on digital to preserve the ambiance, and used flash with film to bring out a few different moments and lean into the party vibe. The result: a mixture of romantic, deep images and fun, exciting party images.

The Story Behind this Photo:
The couple walked through their reception prior to the guests entering. Initially, I wanted to use a slow shutter to emphasize the background, but when I came across this image during my edit, I loved the way the dress danced in the light. I chose to turn this image into a black and white, so the movement stood out and so the depth of darkness gives you a feel for the grand ballroom space.

This was a day about flexibility, trust, and finding beauty in unexpected corners. Alexa and Connor we amazing and so patient. They stayed present, and let their personalities lead despite the rain. Rain or shine, my goal is to always be prepared to capture the essence and energy of the day, even when we had to change the plan completely.