Elva and Sergio met in high school here in Savannah and have been together since 2015, so by the time they said their vows at The Bolton on Liberty in 2025, they had already spent a decade growing up side by side. Their Bolton on Liberty wedding brought together the families they were raised with, a mariachi band, and traditions from both of their cultures.
From our first conversation, they made it clear they wanted to actually enjoy their wedding rather than spend the day worrying about whether everything was perfect.
We’ve always believed the best wedding coverage comes from stepping back and letting the real moments happen. Elva and Sergio wanted the same thing, so we knew right away we were a natural fit.
Inside This Bolton on Liberty Wedding
The Bolton on Liberty sits on Liberty Street in Savannah’s Historic District, inside an automobile service station built in 1945. Couples who have been researching venues for a while may know it by its former name, Soho South. A family named Bolton built the original station, and by happy coincidence, the family that owns the venue today shares the same name.
Elva and Sergio chose it because the space already had so much character on its own. They wanted a classic, romantic wedding without having to transform an empty ballroom that felt stuffy from the start. The high industrial ceilings and warm lighting gave them the setting they pictured, and Elva could envision everyone gathered around the built-in bar the moment she walked in.
For couples comparing downtown Savannah wedding venues, full-day rentals here run from 8am to midnight and the space holds up to 135 guests. You can bring in any licensed and insured caterer, and you can stock the bar with your own alcohol without paying an extra fee.
How These Savannah High School Sweethearts Got Here
Elva and Sergio became friends during their junior year, and Sergio always had a way of making her laugh. She could tell early on that he had a crush on her, though they didn’t start dating until senior year, and they have been together ever since.
Nine years later, Sergio proposed during a trip to Rome at a private candlelit rooftop dinner hosted by a local couple. The rooftop didn’t quite match the photos he’d seen when he booked it, which turned it into one of their favorite stories to laugh about now. As Elva puts it, the moment didn’t need to go perfectly to feel special.
Getting Ready at a Historic Home in Downtown Savannah
Instead of splitting everyone up across separate rooms, Elva and Sergio rented a historic home downtown so their closest family and friends could spend the morning together. Elva wanted the day to start slowly, and the house gave them the historic Savannah backdrop they love. For us, it meant a morning we could document as it unfolded, with nobody posed around the dress.
A Lasso Ceremony That Honored Both of Their Cultures
More than anything else in the planning, Elva and Sergio wanted their wedding to represent both of their cultures. They included a lasso ceremony, a tradition where loved ones drape a looped rope or rosary around the couple’s shoulders in a figure eight to symbolize their union. It’s one of our favorite moments to photograph, because the people placing the lasso are usually the ones who have known the couple the longest.
Mariachi and Traditional Dances at The Bolton on Liberty
Once the ceremony wrapped, the mariachi band carried its fun, romantic energy straight into the reception. Elva wanted their families to hear the songs they grew up with and to feel represented on the dance floor, and the traditional Mexican dances became the standout of the night for us. Elva and Sergio spent the rest of the evening dancing, eating, and laughing with everyone they love in one room.
Why We Shot This Savannah Wedding on Kodak Film
We shot Elva and Sergio’s wedding on Kodak Super 8 along with several 35mm and medium format film cameras. Film suits a day with constant movement and warm light, especially when the couple would rather dance than pose. After their photos and highlight film came back, they told us they can’t stop watching them, and that we captured their vibe right down to the song on the reel.
What Elva and Sergio Said About Working With Us
“We can’t recommend Jeff & Mollie enough!
They are our favorites and we are so grateful a friend of ours recommended them to us. We instantly felt we could trust them with one of the most important days of our lives after our first phone call. Leading up to the wedding day, they were so helpful and responsive.
On the day of, they were professional and really made us feel comfortable. They stuck to the timeline and even helped me relax some! They were the best and we can’t wait to send another future couple their way. Now that we have gotten our photos and videos back, we can’t stop watching and looking at them. They’re perfect and exactly what we envisioned.
They somehow captured our vibe perfectly and uniquely with even the song choice on our highlight reel. They’re sweet and know what they’re doing. Best choice we made!”
Vendor Credits
Venue: The Bolton on Liberty
Planner: @btvwithkayla
Dress & floral: @ivoryandbeau
DJ / MC: @djprecisa
HMUA: @royalmakeupandhair
Car: @callansclassics
Process & scan: @baycamera
If you’re planning a Bolton on Liberty wedding, or you want to see more of our Savannah, Georgia wedding photography and videography before you book, tell us about your day.
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