Meet Iris Ramil

We had the good fortune of connecting with Iris Ramil and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Iris, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
Having my own business was always a given to me. Ever since I was small, I was surrounded with entrepreneurs in my family. From accountants to bakers, I knew someday I would be on my own. These entrepreneurs taught me one thing, success came from providing value. So, I wanted to provide the two most important services required for a wedding, that being, wedding officiant services and wedding photography. A service that combined both roles under one experience. Let me explain.

This allowed me to serve couples more personally and efficiently, offering a seamless ceremony and photography journey. What made this so different was that it set me apart in a competitive industry. In fact, it helped me build a deeper trust with my couples, who value the ease and intimacy of working with a dedicated professional on their special day. In turn, I created a team of professionals, offering Day of Wedding Coordination, videography services, and a beautiful, micro wedding venue for intimate ceremonies.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve been in the wedding industry for well over 20 years, and then some! Because Florida allows Notary Publics to officiate ceremonies, I decided to get my license way back when. I mean, I was already a self taught photographer, photographing weddings occasionally, so I thought, why not!! That was the beginning of my wedding industry journey. A couple of years later, my husband was working as the Director of Operations of a large floral importer in Miami. So, since fresh flowers were easily accessible to me, I said to my husband one day, wouldn’t it be great to open up a flower shop? He said, why not? So the flower shop opened in the summer of 2000. We created beautiful floral designs for weddings as well as the cruise industry. It was really grand. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, I then decided to also open up a bakery. Now that was challenging!! We created beautiful wedding cakes with intricate designs and delicate desserts for venues as well as to the public. Years later, I decided to scale down. I sold the bakery, then the flower shop. So instead, I opened up a nice office, where I could meet with my couples and get them ready for the most important day of their lives!! I really just wanted to dedicate myself to officiating weddings and photography. I feel it’s a personal connection I create with every couple. I’m not just there to perform their wedding ceremony or capture that impromptu smile, I’m there to make them feel valued and celebrated. Whether I’m behind the lens or standing at the altar, I treat every wedding as it’s the most important one I’ve ever been part of, because to that couple, it is. As you can see, getting here to where I am today, took me a while. I’ve worn many hats. But, those long hours gave me the background and provided me the experience, through trial and error, to endure. I built each business from the ground up, with a deep belief in myself. I love the challenge!!

Through the years, what I’m most proud of is the trust my clients have placed in me. Many of them have become lifelong friends. I’ve been blessed to officiate intimate and large weddings, photograph generations of families, and share in some of their life’s most meaningful moments. That kind of trust can’t be bought, it’s earned through heart, consistency and care. I believe in celebrating love, honoring relationships, and creating moments that are genuine and unforgettable. Whether I’m marrying a couple or photographing their special day, I bring warmth, professionalism, and a heart full of gratitude.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh my!!! There are soooo many places in this beautiful Miami Dade to go and visit. Ok, so as a Latina, I need to start my day with some espresso coffee. They could start at the iconic Versailles Bakery on 8th Street in Little Havana. They have an array of baked goods that are just perfect with an espresso!! While they’re there, they can visit Little Havana. There’s a cute little park where old folks sit and play dominoes and talk about old times. The street is lined with colorful buildings. A truly unique site. If you want to splurge a bit, there’s also Cafe Bastille – Downtown Miami and Cafe Bistro. They’re a bit on the pricey side, but a definite must!! There are also beautiful parks and museums, like Matheson Hammocks, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Viscaya Museum, Perez Art Museum, and Wynwood Walls, You can hang out in the evening in South Beach and Ocean Drive. After visiting all these places, you’ll be hungry. So why not stop at “Dolores But You Can Call Me Lolita”. I actually officiated a wedding there. They have a rooftop terrace with city views and a really chic dining room. They also have DJs & dancing. A really nice place to finish off the evening. You can also try “House of Food Porn”. I know, the name makes you think twice but their cuisine is just unbelievable. You can also head on over to Coconut Grove. There’s the Planta Queen for vegetarians, Sereia for seafood, and Sushi by Scratch for sushi obviously. Or, take a drive to South Beach and visit Craft Restaurant in Espanola Way, they have delicious gourmet pizza and truffle fries, oh so good!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Where do I begin with this question! First and foremost, my faith is what keeps me positive. Without it, I’d be completely lost!!
And definitely my husband Mario. I’m truly blessed with the most understanding person on my side. He has been my greatest supporter. His encouragement gives me the strength to always move forward even when storms are brewing!! Having a business is not easy, but I have always loved a challenge! It requires a level of dedication, discipline, and emotional strength that many do not see behind the scenes. And without a good support system, balancing all of this can be really difficult, to the point that many just quit. I consider myself extremely fortunate!!

Website: I have two websites. They are: www.weddingdayromance.com and www.photographybyiris.com

Instagram: @weddingdayromance and @305irisphotography