Some weddings feel like a full circle moment, and this Vinoy Resort wedding was one of them. Back in 2010, I photographed Camryn’s sister, Courtney, in Miami when she was only 12 and had just signed with NEXT. (You can still see that shoot here: Courtney Vogler, NEXT Model.) Fast forward to this summer, and Courtney was standing beside Camryn as her maid of honor at The Vinoy in St. Petersburg. I loved every second of it.
Camryn and Vlad met as student athletes at FAU. Vlad is originally from Russia and now plays center for the Miami Heat, and at 7’1″, let’s just say I got creative with my angles. Their day was the best mix of the two of them: a love of basketball, Vlad’s Russian roots, and a soft sage and blush palette that felt fresh and very Florida.
Getting ready for a Vinoy Resort wedding
The morning started the way every morning should: Camryn and her girls in blush satin pajamas, toasting champagne on the bed. Down the hall, Vlad and the guys took over the hotel bar in their ivory suits for a whiskey toast. Camryn’s details were so pretty, with a sage and white invitation suite, limes on green toile china, custom Vinoy matchboxes and a C&V heart cookie. Her Mira Zwillinger gown was all floral lace and soft tulle, and it was perfect on her.
Camryn shared a first look with her dad, Matt, in the suite. Then she met Vlad by the fountain in the courtyard, with the pink hotel and palm trees behind them. His smile when he turned around said it all.
A sunshower and a change of plans
The plan was an outdoor ceremony in the Tea Garden, but Florida had other ideas. A sunshower rolled in, and the ceremony moved inside. Honestly, nobody missed a beat, and on a hot and humid July day, the air conditioning wasn’t the worst thing. Florist Fire’s green and white hydrangea columns framed the couple in front of tall arched windows, and the indoor setup looked like it had been the plan all along.
Their uncle, Dr. John Small, officiated. Vlad walked his mom down the aisle, the ring bearer stole the show with the biggest grin, and Camryn walked in with her dad to “A Thousand Years.” Vlad’s best man was his best friend from Russia, who also plays in the NBA. Camryn laughed through the ring exchange, and I’m pretty sure everyone in the room was laughing with her.
Vinoy Resort wedding portraits around the pink palace
The Vinoy is one of my favorite St. Pete venues to photograph, and The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club gave us so much to work with: the main arches, the courtyard fountain, the palms and the ornate front steps. Camryn’s bridesmaids wore mismatched sage satin, the guys wore ivory and tan, and this crew was game for everything, even in the July heat.
A Vinoy Resort wedding reception in sage and blush
Inside the Grand Ballroom, Handpicked Events and Florist Fire created something really special. The tables had sage linens, rattan flower chargers, engraved wooden name tags with blush tassels, pink pressed glass goblets and little cordless lamps, all surrounded by hydrangeas and garden roses. Their C&V monogram glowed on the wall. The seating chart read “From coast to coast, the people we love most,” with every table named for a place that matters to them, from St. Petersburg and Moscow to Ann Arbor and New York City.
Then there was the swag wall. Under a “Take Your Pick” sign, guests grabbed Goldin trucker hats, “with love, from St. Pete” tote bags, striped Goldins playing cards, and my favorite detail of the whole day: pink tennis balls stamped “with love, Hank” from their dog, Hank. By the end of the night, Goldin hats were all over the dance floor.
The bar served his and hers signature cocktails: “Her White Russian” for Vlad and “The Melon Alley-Oop” for Camryn. Next to the classic white wedding cake from Publix, Sweet Keri’s made an orange basketball groom’s cake with a Goldin hoop on top and FAU, Michigan and Miami Heat logos.
Russian traditions and a packed dance floor
One of my favorite moments was the karavai, a Russian wedding bread tradition. Their moms held out the bread, and whoever takes the bigger bite is said to be the head of the household. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
Their first dance was “Space and Time” by Tyler Childers, and yes, there was a lift. When the dance floor opened, Camryn and her girls got kokoshniks, the traditional Russian headdress, then Bismarck came in on live sax with foam sticks for everyone, and the party did not slow down.
Camryn and Vlad, thank you for having me there for your day. After all these years, it meant so much to be part of it. This wedding was also featured as an exclusive on Over the Moon!
