happy, happy

This afternoon, I met Jennifer and Mark at the spot of their March ceremony and reception in Jekyll Island.  I was wowed by the 1000’s (literally) of incredible portrait spots and also by Jennifer’s contagious joy and Mark’s sincerity.  I am happy to have met them, and I am so excited about capturing their destination wedding for them. Just after the shoot ended, I called my husband on his cell since he and the boys had come along to explore Jekyll–and he said, “You’ve got to come check out this garden and bring your camera!  The boys are playing on the lawn and this is what I want our lawn to look like one day.”  I ran to meet him, and the spot was exactly where Jennifer and Mark’s reception is to be held.  The last pictures are some of our own New Year’s fireworks–just some light painting–a little freeway firecrackers on the way home.

A moment comes during every portrait session, so subtle it could be missed, when the couple forgets that I’m there–and I get to witness their love.  I feel so grateful for those moments. In a few minutes, they remember that I’m there shooting and look my way, and I can only think of saying something corny like, “You guys are such a cute couple” or some variation thereof. But I am forever touched by the true love I witness weekly. 

 Almost four years ago, my son Tristan was born with extreme colic–so bad he flunked daycare! I left a high-paying job in pharmaceutical sales to stay home and care for him. We didn’t know how we’d be able to make our house payments, and not much of a homemaker type, I had never imagined myself as a stay-at-home mom. 

 My husband believed in me and encouraged me to invest in top of the line photography equipment to pursue my dream of becoming a full-time wedding photographer.  I had always loved photography and had pursued it as a hobby–and I had always loved weddings and people. 

 When I spend an afternoon like today with Jennifer and Mark in Jekyll Island for their engagement portrait and I get to witness those moments of real love, I feel forever fortunate for hardship that prompts us to make changes in our lives that make us better, stronger, and in the end happier.  Thank you to my husband for believing in me and for supporting me in pursuing my life’s true calling.  Thank you to all of the couples and families who have believed in me and trusted me with preserving their memories.

Happy new year to you all.

emily & danny

I have the opportunity to work with some of the most genuinely kind people like Emily and Danny–it makes my job even more wonderful.  Emily and Danny were married during a nuptial mass in Emily’s church home of Immaculate Conception. Founded in 1854, the sanctuary is remarkable because of the vibrant stained glass windows and also remarkable for how warm the Pastors and staff are. 

During the ceremony, one of the pastors was motioning to me from the altar, and I thought I was in trouble!  But he was actually inviting me to come on the altar to get better shots during communion–this just does not happen!  I am always thankful for the church’s kindness–and it was such a fitting place for such a couple to tie the knot.  The natural light in the dressing room at Immaculate Conception made Emily look angelic, which is also fitting since she is such a genuinely kind and selfless person. 

She and Danny met when she was his waitress at a local restaurant. If you’re a regular blog reader, you know that this seems to be a common way my couples meet!  They are really cute together and obviously very in love, so we had a great time finishing up posed pictures in the church, the church courtyard, and at Deercreek Country Club with the beautiful view behind the clubhouse.  Their reception was both meaningful and also lots of fun, led by great DJ Dan (www.djthundercat.com).

chance meetings

Lindsay and Dave met at a restaurant when they lived at another city and now are preparing to get married in the oldest city.  After a few attempts at engagement portrait appointments were foiled by bad weather, we were determined to make tonight’s appointment stick, come rain or wind.  They are a truly sweet couple and a joy to be around.

daphne and maddox

After my friend Daphne was a bride herself and didn’t like the way she was treated by the bridal shops or their dress selection, she felt inspired to open her own bridal boutique, The Simple Bride in Jacksonville Beach.  Daphne is a kind, giving, and creative person—and these qualities shine in The Simple Bride.

After opening the store, Daphne found out that she would be expecting a baby.  Maddox was born and Daphne was devastated to learn that because of a heart problem, her newborn son would need open-heart surgery and had a 15% chance for survival.  Maddox beat the odds.

Today, both Maddox and The Simple Bride are thriving. 

lindsey & derek

 

Epping Forest Yacht Club, an unforgettable Jacksonville mansion overlooking formal English gardens and the St. Johns River, has seen the Vanderbilts, Carnegies, Presidents, world leaders, and celebrities walk through its doors over the years. Today, Lindsey and Derek, joined by over 200 of their loved ones, walked through the doors ready for an unforgettable celebration.

People often come up to me at weddings and say, “They couldn’t pay me enough money to do your job.”  I always try to explain to them the reason I love my job so much. 

I believe in love.  Love is beautiful.  Beauty transcends all time and endures all things.  Thus, a historic mansion like Epping is the perfect place for the beautiful union of two people so in love like Lindsey and Derek. 

Lindsey and Derek were so much fun to work with during their engagement session.  They share such a knowing and comfort with each other.  Upon meeting them, they are the type of people who immediately feel like old friends.

The aroma of real fir trees and fresh red roses was dancing in the air.  Candlelight and sparkly ornaments brightened the club halls.  Heavy storms were predicted, but aside from a few raindrops during the reception, the weather was beautiful.  The couple’s ceremony was performed by the bride’s brother-in-law near the fountains and marina.  The bride and groom’s cursive initials in red rose petals decorated the side lawns adjacent to the ceremony spot.  The bride’s aunt created all of the floral arrangements, and red roses were everywhere–it was evident that the floral work was done with love. 

After a full dinner and some dancing to live smooth jazz, guests filled favor bags full of gourmet candy before the bubble send-off. 

jen & jamison

 

The setting was the Casa Marina Hotel in Jacksonville Beach.  This was the place, rich with history and architectural beauty, opened in 1925 and rumored to have been enjoyed by many notables over the years, including Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Presidents Harry S. Truman and F.D.R, Jean Harlowe, Al Capone,  Charlie Chaplin, & many more.  

Today, this was the place that Jen and Jamison said their vows under a tent wrapped in sheer fabric and white lights, decorated with baby’s breath and pink roses.  We snuck out to the beach for all of the posed pictures just after and then after the reception traditions, the crowd burst into celebration. What a party!!  Full of fun with decades of music and people all blending so well, the excitement in the air was electric. Pink uplighting and stars shone on the many dancers. 

The plate of chicken wings is actually Jamison’s groom’s cake–and it is really cake!! Even the celery is icing.  The pink and black decorations, the perfect breeze coming off the ocean, the real love and happiness this couple share–Jen and Jamison’s wedding was all right out of a magazine. 

teri & will

I started editing the images for Teri and Will’s album, and I wanted to share some of my favorites (Marianna and Shawn, you are next!). They are such a beautiful couple, inside and out–extremely kind, generous people–they are the first couple to send me flowers after their wedding!!  One of the most magical aspects of my job is to be witness to two people so totally and truly in love as Teri and Will are–I hope these pictures give you a glimpse of what I saw.  The destination wedding for these New Englanders was held at the historic Casa Marina Hotel in Jacksonville Beach.  After their very sweet ceremony, we took some pictures around the hotel and out on the beach. The couple’s reception was such a gorgeous dance of color and light.  Teri shared her great singing voice with a few songs during the party.  It was a beautiful night for a beautiful couple.

true love endures all

In my past, past life as a community college English instructor, I knew Lori as one of my best students and as our extremely helpful student assistant. Seriously, the girl was a whiz with the Xerox machine!  In my past life, I knew Lori as one of my pharmaceutical sales partners; we worked as a team with two other girls and promoted a pharmaceutical drug to physicians.  If you attended the last UNF bridal show, you may have met Lori as one of my helpers, passing out my cards. 

 Lori’s life is the reason cliches stick around and were even written in the first place. She is the type of person you would tell, “You should write a book about all of this!”  Lori’s mother Kathy, such a sweet woman, raised Lori with Lori at the center of her world.  I know she was so thrilled when Lori found Brad.

 Lori and Brad planned their dream wedding to be held at Sawgrass Marriott resort in September of 2004–yes, the year Jacksonville got slammed with one storm after another.  And unfortunately, their wedding day fell amidst one of the worst, where many in Jacksonville lost power for days and some had major house damage.  The city was shut down.  Guests could not travel. At the last minute, the wedding had to be postponed. 

Despite the major obstacle of the weather, Lori and Brad were married surrounded by immediate family in a local church to which Brad’s grandfather held the key. 

Lori and Brad had invested a lot in their dream honeymoon.  They look ahead with optimism toward their trip. 

They left town and had a couple of good weather days till another hurricane came through; they had to evacuate the island resort and come home without any reimbursement.

But they had a Sawgrass wedding ceremony and reception with family and friends to re-plan and look forward to–Brad and Lori did have that gorgeous sunny day they so deserved! Lori was such a beautiful bride, and her mother was so proud.

That next year, Lori’s mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and like an angel, Lori was with her every step of the way.  When Kathy passed away on Christmas eve of the same year, Lori planned such a beautiful tribute to her mother.  I’ve never been to a viewing or a funeral so many people not only attended, but stayed so long . . . and like an angel, Brad was by Lori’s side every step of the way.

Brad and Lori hoped for a baby with which to share their love.  The couple was amazed when they discovered that their baby girl was due exactly a year after Kathy’s passing.  I see Kathy as an angel creating that happiness for her own baby girl.

Now, beautiful baby Elle is celebrating her first birthday, and she serves as living proof of all those cliches: that love is enduring, that love always finds a way–despite any obstacle (or hurricane), and that perhaps we can all serve as angels to each other at one time or another. 

I feel honored to do Lori, Brad, and Elle’s family portrait this year.

Fall in December

Emily and Danny are easy to be around, such a cute couple. Danny is very real and witty, and Emily has a natural joy about her, very quick to smile and to laugh. Emily got a case of the giggles early on in the portrait, which brought out both of their big smiles.  Danny proposed at Alpine Grove Park in Switzerland, so we met there for the start of their portrait session and shot a few pictures on the swing by the river where he popped the question.  If you’ve never discovered Alpine Grove Park, it definitely merits a visit with the mossy trees towering over the lawn by the river, lots of wooded trails, and a play park for kids.  We then headed over to Mickler’s Landing for a few sunset beach shots. 

The boys at the zoo