Erika and Jorge’s Moon and Stars Wedding at Bakers Ranch

Some love stories don’t need a dramatic beginning. They just need time. Erika and Jorge met in high school, built a life together, raised a son and a daughter, and on November 30, 2024, they finally made it official at Bakers Ranch in Parrish, Florida. We had already photographed their engagement session at Hillsborough River State Park, so by the time their wedding day arrived, we felt like we were already part of the family.

After more than 60 weddings on these grounds, we know Bakers Ranch in a way that only comes from years of being here. We know how the light moves through the trees at Infinity Forest as the afternoon stretches toward evening, how the lanterns along the ceremony aisle begin to glow right around golden hour, and exactly where to position ourselves so nothing gets missed. For Erika and Jorge’s November wedding, the late afternoon sun filtered through the natural canopy at Infinity Forest at just the right angle, wrapping the ceremony in warm, organic light you cannot manufacture.

Before the ceremony, Erika got ready on site, and the bridal suite gave us everything we needed for editorial prep shots. Her gown by Dress by Lori was covered in intricate beading and lace detail, and we hung it in the twisted vine arch outside so the natural light could do what it does best. Inside, mimosas were flowing, bridesmaids were laughing, and the details told the story of a bride who had thought through every element of her day. AMUSE brought an extraordinary brunch spread that kept everyone fueled and happy through the getting ready hours. Meanwhile upstairs in the groom’s cave above the bridal suite, Jorge was getting dressed, and his son helped him into his jacket on the balcony overlooking the reception floor, one of those quiet moments between a father and his boy that you simply cannot plan for.

The first touch happened on the Lovelock Bridge, one of our favorite portrait spots at Bakers Ranch. Erika walked up behind Jorge and covered his eyes, and their daughter stood right there watching, not quite understanding why Jorge wasn’t allowed to turn around. She kept trying to pull him toward Erika, which made the whole moment even better. When Jorge finally turned and saw Erika for the first time, she had tears running down her face before he even had a chance to say a word.

The moon and stars theme carried through every inch of the day, and Erika went all in. She pulled every single lantern from Bakers Ranch’s rental catalog, lining the entire Infinity Forest ceremony aisle with candles and lanterns from end to end, flanked by the venue’s signature iron lantern posts. What that aisle looked like at dusk, and then again after dark, was something we had never seen quite like that in all our years at this venue. Violinist Katherine played as guests arrived, her music drifting through the trees in the late afternoon light. Gold stars floated through the reception space alongside crystal chandeliers and flowing white draping. The dance floor filled with clouds for their first dance. The room felt like something out of a dream, and the Bakers Ranch team put together something truly special. We watched their coordinator carry in strings of gold star lights through the arched doorway that morning, and by evening the whole venue had transformed into exactly what Erika and Jorge had imagined.

Erika wore two stunning gowns throughout the day. Before the ceremony, we caught a quiet moment between her and her daughter on a garden bench beneath the trees, veil catching the breeze, her little girl in her flower girl dress leaning in for a kiss while the world seemed to stop around them. It became one of our favorite frames from the entire wedding. Some photos find you.

Their son spoke during the reception. The words he said about his parents and what their love means to him stopped the room. That kind of moment is exactly why we do what we do.

We brought the drone out for portraits along the candle-lit ceremony aisle, Erika and Jorge lying side by side while we captured them from above, the lace of her gown spreading out around them like a painting. At night, the lanterns flanking the Infinity Forest entrance glowed warm gold while the two of them shared a quiet kiss surrounded by hundreds of candles. By the time they made their grand entrance from the balcony overlooking the reception floor, hands raised and smiling like they couldn’t believe it was real, the energy in the room was electric. We stayed for the night formals, and the candlelight gave us everything we needed to close the gallery the right way.

We are so grateful to have been trusted with Erika and Jorge’s day, and grateful to the Bakers Ranch team for a venue that never stops giving us great light and great moments. To the full vendor team, thank you for building something beautiful together.