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My mission as a wedding photographer is to help happy couples celebrate life's biggest joys with high quality photos and a dang good time. I believe the experience is just as important as the photos and that you deserve beautiful, lasting memories.

Hey!! I'm Gabriella.

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5 Tips to Cut Wedding Costs … (Not Guests)

News flash: weddings are NOT cheap. However, there are ways to cut costs without taking away any super important parts of the day you may or may not have been planning since you had your first crush in middle school.

1. Skip the party favors.

Nobody goes to a wedding for the party favor. Many people end up leaving their party favors behind, too. I understand that they are a way to thank your guests for making the trip and sacrificing their time to witness your wedding. But I challenge you this: what if, instead of a customized tissue packet and little candies, you instead thanked your guests with a rockin’ experience instead???

2. Have a half-open bar

Cocktail hour is meant for just that — cocktails!! People are starting to celebrate the marriage and prepare for the reception. And one hour is plenty of time for more than one drink, PLUS they can bring a drink to the table with them while they wait for the meal to arrive! Once the reception begins, you can close the open bar and instead only offer beer and wine (and maybe your signature cocktails). People still get to enjoy their drinks, but you’re not spending money on Uncle George’s 7th cranberry vodka!

3. DIY centerpieces

Hello, Pinterest!! These are SO do-able. There are a ton of ideas out there that involve thrifting, which is better for the environment anyway! And to make it even easier and more fun, throw a centerpiece-making party with your bridesmaids/best friends!!!

4. Postcard save-the-dates

There are so many sites that allow you to design your own save-the-dates in a cost effective way like Shutterfly and Vistaprint. Another way to cut down on costs? Ditch the envelope! Your save-the-dates don’t need to have the exact venue if you’re concerned about privacy. This option saves paper, too 🙂

5. Wear shoes you already own

Brides, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret: aside from detail pictures, your shoes will barely be seen on your wedding day! In most cases, your wedding dress will touch the floor and cover your shoes. Unless you change into a shorter dress for your reception; which, if you do, you’ll probably want to change into more comfortable dancing shoes as well!

DIY centerpiece for a small wedding

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- Melissa d.

“Gabriella was absolutely amazing!!! Words cannot even describe how perfect she was, but I’ll try my best. Right from the beginning, I knew she was the one. She was so caring, calming, organized, and just a genuinely happy person. She made me feel even more excited for my wedding. She was so helpful throughout the entire process right down to the big day. AND THE PICTURES - OH MY GOD. They are absolutely breathtaking and she definitely tells the story of your day in the most perfect way. She captures every precious moment while having a smile on her face the whole time she’s with you. I can’t say enough amazing things about her. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking to have the BEST photographer for any occasion. We had such an amazing experience with Gabriella and we can’t thank her enough!”

"Captures every moment"

- Dawn g.

“Gabriella is a very great planner, very organized and an absolute delight to work with. Her planning and organization helped me prepare for the big day without any fear that I left any important photo out. Her planning skills ensured I didn't miss any details. She is such a delight to work with she was even happy to help me with my little surprise I had for my husband, it went off without a hitch. She captured all the photos we could imagine....all the fun, sweet, sincere moments throughout the day. She even provided the photos to us in a timely manner. I HIGHLY recommend her; she's highly energetic, personable, easy to work with, a planner, organized, and she captured lots of beautiful pictures. She exceeded all of my expectations. She was such a great photographer.”

"Exceeded all my expectations"

- Melissa N.

Making my dream wedding come true!
Gabriella was hired by my (now) husband, as a surprise photographer for our proposal. She was phenomenal and we hired her for our wedding as well! Her energy and vision for our wedding photos captured every moment and emotion. She was amazing in every way. Her attention to detail and knowing what was important to me on my big day was awesome - she went the extra mile. I would 10/10 recommend her to any one wanting to capture beautiful moments in life - for their engagement, wedding, and more.

"She went the extra mile."

- Megan W.

Hiring Gabriella was one of the best decisions that we made during our wedding planning. From our very first conversation, Gabriella was warm & bubbly. She radiates positive energy that I knew that we needed for our big day. Gabriella has a vigorous work ethic and eye for detail. Her ability to transform any setting is pure magic. We enjoyed working with her throughout the planning process and are absolutely thrilled with our engagement and wedding photos (which she had edited and back to us in less than one month!).

"One of the best decisions"

- Lisette & Tyrus b.

What can we say about Gabriella Marie Photography. There are so many words to describe the amazing job Gabriella did on our special wedding day. Gabriella will not only shoot your wedding, she can help you design what your wedding will be. She is there every step of the way. She has amazing attention to detail. Before the big day, Gabriella has a plan that will ensure that your day will be spectacular. She is always available via text, call, direct message, FaceTime or Zoom. Gabriella is the absolute best photographer ever. The best quality that she has is that she is more than a photographer, she is a true friend. She cares about her clients and makes us feel like a trust-worthy friend is there to help. For example, she sent my wife and I a pre-wedding care package. This gift proved to be so valuable for us while dealing with wedding stress. This gift was the most thoughtful thing my wife and I ever received. A simple thank you is just only the tip of the iceberg with regarding Gabriella Marie Photography. Everyone please check out our new friend Gabriella. Trust us, she is worth every penny and more.

"Worth every penny and more"

Testimonials