Mary + Stafford Wedding | Biloxi Schooner | Gulf Coast, MS

The Sheehan wedding was one I’ve been looking forwards to ever since meeting her and her family over Thanksgiving week. Stafford & Mary had flown in from Rhode Island to spend the holidays with her parents on the Coast and wedding plan a bit!
As a chemist and marine biologist, respectively, the air and sea are extensive aspects of their lives and it was so special to photograph their couple portraits on the Biloxi Schooner and Gulf Coast beach. A soft breeze and glowy sunset added that extra dash of perfect to their evening. In a little portrait prompt of “sniff her temple” at the church, things got extra sweet when Stafford realized Mary was wearing the perfume he had made. Seriously how fun!
When covid first hit at the start of 2020, they made their own hand sanitizer and gave it out to friends & family. These little bottles doubled as the most useful of pre-dinner wedding favors after the couple and their guests sailed from their St. Michael’s ceremony to the Centennial Plaza for their reception.
During the reception, Staff’s dad pulled me aside to share how incredibly proud and happy he was for his son. Not only is Stafford a world-renown scientist who founded his own company that is making the world a cleaner place, he also found a wife that loves the planet as much as he. When I met up with Mary over coffee, we spent the first few minutes diving deep into how plastic straws are harming the sea turtles and our oceans. If you’re reading this, do rethink your straw choices, please!
Mary had a gem of a family member that doubled as her planner and coordinator, aka her amazing mom. Since they kept their wedding party to just family, it was precious to see our bride wear her heart on her sleeves in the tender in-between moments with their people.
At our meeting, I was cautioned, repeatedly, to prepare for a dance floor I’d never seen before. I don’t know if anything could have made me #ReadyforSheehanigans that went down that night. From a surprise bagpiper to cartwheels, breakdancing, crowd surfing, and hours of singing to every. single. song, theirs was a celebration that won’t soon be forgotten.
Mary & Staff, thank you for allowing me to capture your story. Congratulations on finding your forever person!











































































































VENDOR LOVE
Venue: Centennial Plaza | Church: St. Michael’s Catholic Church | Wedding Coordinator: Sheila Hughes | Officiant: Monsignor Fullam | Photographer: Annie Elise Photography | Second photographer: Julie Holmes | Stationary: Paperdoodles | Florist: Forget Me Not Florals | Hair & Makeup: Azalea Salon | Bridal Boutique: Alexandra’s Bridal Boutique | Cake: Fleur delis Gourmet Bakery | Rentals: Southern Events | DJ: Nightshift Sounds Entertainment | Caterer: Centennial Plaza | Photobooth: Snaparazzi | Favors: Air Company
May 21, 2022 @ 5:28 pm
I think that this is the loveliest, most ebullient and happy wedding I’ve ever seen!
May this new couple, who DO know that life does have “downs” as well as “ups”, will make a great and smart effort to keep the “ups” as much as possible … in keeping with the beginning of their lives together!
I’m Deet Lewis, of Antigua Guatemala, who is a friend of the “elder Staff” and who thinks so highly of him
that I knew for sure that his son would be as wonderful.
July 3, 2022 @ 3:00 am
Absolutely loved your blog, pictures and information. Thanks for sharing.