Romantic Merritt Island Backyard Wedding | Maya and Austin

On February 21st, 2026, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the Merritt Island Backyard wedding of Maya and Austin. What made this wedding extra special, is that it took place in the backyard of Austin’s childhood home along the Indian River. What a blessing to be able to host your wedding in your own back yard.

From the moment I arrived, there was this quiet excitement in the air. I found Maya getting her make up done by her sister-in-law Paige while her friends from the UK got ready in the other room. Her mother was busy about the room and her father was taking his time to get ready as he watched the girls do what they needed to do.

Maya is originally from the UK, so her parents, brother, sister in law, and two best friends all flew in to celebrate. It made the day feel even more meaningful knowing how far her people traveled to stand beside her.

I photographed her rings, childhood mementos, and the sweetest drawing Maya had made of their love story. And then there was the dress. Absolutely stunning. It fit her perfectly and photographed like a dream.

The Details

Austin’s parents did an incredible job transforming their backyard. They worked with Southern Touch Wedding Planners to bring the entire vision together, and it showed.

The wedding colors were blue and white with real florals covering the tables. Soft. Elegant. Timeless.

One of my favorite personal touches was a scooter covered in florals at the reception. It represented how Maya and Austin first met while backpacking in Southeast Asia. I enjoyed finding all the small details around the property that hinted back at their love story. The map she drew of their story, the scooter with the florals and little scooter shaped drink mixers.

Before guests arrived, I sent my drone up to capture the ceremony and reception layout from above. It was such a pretty view I had to capture it from above. Backyard weddings along the Indian River just hit different.

When Austin arrived from the hotel, we did groom portraits on the dock behind the house and on his parents’ boat. His dad joined in for a few photos, which made those moments even more meaningful. You could see his dad was beaming. So proud and happy for his son.

The Ceremony – Merritt Island Backyard Wedding

Maya walked down the aisle with both of her parents. It was not traditional, but it was perfectly them. She is incredibly close to both her mom and dad, and it was wonderful to witness.

There were tears. So many tears.

It was heartfelt, emotional, and intimate. It was just so clear how much these two truly love each other. They never let the distance between them get in the way.

Sunset on the Indian River

After the ceremony, we stepped down to the Indian River for portraits and were gifted the most unreal sunset. The sky glowed. The water reflected everything. Maya and Austin were full of post wedding energy. You can really see in the photos how happy they were that day.

Those are some of my favorite portraits I have ever taken.

The Reception and Exit

The reception began with their first dance, followed by Maya and her father. Halfway through their dance she started crying and they simply held each other until she felt ready to continue. You could see how deeply he loves her.

Austin and his mom shared their mother son dance next. Shelly held him tight as they circled around the dance floor.

Then came speeches from both dads and their best friends. Thoughtful sentiments as well as funny anecdotes were shared by all. My favorite part was Austins dad. He spoke of when Austin first told him he met a girl. He knew that it was someone special from that moment.

To end the night, they did a mock grand exit with sparklers and a bubble machine. Maya and Austin ran through their guests toward a vintage Ford truck with Just Married written on the back. It was so sweet and fun to see and capture.

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Backyard weddings in Merritt Island will always have my heart. They are layered with history, family, and personality in a way that feels different from traditional venues.

If you are planning a wedding in Merritt Island, along the Indian River, or anywhere in Central Florida and want a photographer who will capture the real moments and the quiet in between ones, I would love to talk with you. You can reach out here.

Because at the end of the day, it is not just about pretty details. It is about the little moments in between the big ones that matter too.