Katie and Randy know how to throw a great party. Their Indian River Lifesaving Station wedding had all the elements: cute decor, an ocean view, and a bumping dance floor. Their laidback celebration was everything you could want from a wedding on the shore. These energetic wedding photos give you a good sense of what an exciting night it turned out to be.
When I tell you that Katie and Randy love the shore, I mean it. They actually live on the Jersey shore, but Dewey Beach is their favorite beach town. They decided to get married in Delaware. Their goal was for their wedding to feel like them. I’d say they nailed it. This Indian River Lifesaving Station wedding was as thoughtful, sweet, and goofy as they are.
The Indian River Lifesaving Station itself is a historic building on the beach. It was built in 1876 for the government organization that would eventually become the U.S. Coast Guard. The building houses a museum and doesn’t actually have any indoor space available for wedding ceremonies or receptions. It makes a beautiful backdrop for ceremonies and portraits, though.
One of the best things about this wedding venue is that it’s actually on the beach. It includes a sailcloth tent right on the beach. Your cocktail hour and reception take place along the dunes. Guests can enjoy the stunning sunset over the water, and you can get romantic golden hour wedding portraits.
This Delaware wedding venue is actually part of Delaware Seashore State Park. Despite that, it feels very private – more like a historic wedding venue than a park. One perk of that is that it’s very spacious. It can accommodate up to 250 guests under the sailcloth tent and on the grounds. For a Saturday during peak wedding season (May through October), an Indian River Lifesaving Station wedding starts around $14,000.
Katie and Randy were a fun couple to photograph for so many reasons. Among them were that Katie is also a wedding and portrait photographer. It’s always an honor to photograph another photographer! I wanted to make sure I documented this Indian River Lifesaving Station wedding with plenty of romantic portraits that Katie would love.
Before the ceremony, Katie, Randy, and I walked around the area taking some portraits. Their joy is palpable in those images. After the ceremony, though, we took advantage of the amazing golden hour light to capture romantic moments along the shore. This is one of those times that it’s helpful to get married in such a quiet area. The beach looks endless and empty behind Katie and Randy as they soak up the sunset and newlywed feels.
The romantic portraits from this Indian River Lifesaving Station wedding are balanced by equally authentic photos that are fun and downright silly. Randy is very goofy, and everyone loves that about him. Candid moments from the toasts and dance party show you how much people enjoy his sense of humor. Katie and Randy were born to be the life of a party like this.
Those documentary style photos leant themselves to the more heartfelt moments of the night, too. Randy really teared up during the first look, which was so sweet. The reception also included a tribute to his late mother. He danced with his aunts to her favorite song. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. Everyone could feel the depth of emotion in that moment.
At the end of the night, this Indian River Lifesaving Station wedding was fun. I have rarely seen such a lively dance floor with so many guests getting involved. Katie and Randy let loose with their guests. At some point in the night, the groomsmen carried them around the dance floor while everyone cheered. The looks on their faces are pure joy. It was the perfect night at this laidback wedding venue.
Are you interested in having me photograph your wedding? I’m Rebecca, a New Jersey wedding photographer here to document your real life adventures. Let’s create eclectic and joyful wedding photos that are true to you! Connect with me here.
As a wedding and elopement photographer based in New Jersey, I specialize in capturing enchanting moments that tell the unique love stories of my clients. I am dedicated to providing LGBTQIA+ friendly services and take pride in embracing and celebrating the diversity of all couples.