I know I say this on an almost daily basis but I have the coolest job ever….and I am pretty positive, I have the best clients too. But there are some people that when you meet them, you get that confirmation about your job, and who you are. When I first met Liz, I fell in love. Ok, I know it sounds crazy, but she was seriously one of the mostest fabulousest woman I had ever met…I left that wedding meeting, and called my sister in law {who had referred Liz to me} and promptly told her that if Liz did not hire me, I would quit…wedding photography, and I meant EVERY…WORD!  Luckily for me, this crazy, fabulous, amazing woman decided to hire my team, and her wedding day was everything I expected, fun, romantic, and the best way to spend a Saturday.

Oh…Todd. I did not meet this man until the day of the wedding. I wondered what kind of man would hold this girls heart- I knew he had to be something pretty amazing. Luckily for me, and I suppose Liz, Todd did not disappoint- he was as fabulous as she was. He went along with every crazy idea that Liz and I had, and then some, and did it all with a smile! But more than that, was the love these two shared. Its not just love, its a fun love- you could see that what they did together they totally enjoyed, and that to me is what a good marriage is all about!

Cra Cra and Todd, what can I say to you two- I LOVE you! Having the opportunity to work with your friends and family was well- amazing! I cant thank you enough for allowing me to be part of your love story, I know this is just the beginning of a fabulous life for the two of you! Remember you let those balloons go…enjoy only these moments you make as husband and wife! Congratulations to two of the most special people I have had the honor of photographing!

And their amazing vendors:

Church  Riverside Methodist Church            Venue Cummer Museum

Bridal Gown Maggie Sotero     Makeup and Hair  Paulina Perez   Bridesmaids bella Bridesmaid

Floral + Design   Petals and Bows   Lighting Mark Grandin         Invitations  Blue Eye Brown Eye

Music HipShack           Cakes Sweet ‘n Flour Pastries         Catering Chef’s Garden

How did you two meet?
We first met in Ft Worth at a combo bachelor/bachelorette party for our two dear friends – my girlfriend from college, and his longtime buddy. We had a lively conversation about the upcoming UF/OU National Championship Game, and that was that. About two weeks later at our friends’ wedding in Anna Maria Island, we spent the whole weekend flirting,  talking football smack, and flirting some more. When the weekend was over,  we stayed in touch via phone and email. By the end of April we knew we had to see each other to see of this flirtation and friendship could be what we hoped it could be. He visited me in Jacksonville at the end of April,  and by the end of the weekend, we were done for. Many back-and-forth weekends later,  we decided we could cut down severely on all the teary airport drives and loneliness if I left Jacksonville and moved to Fort Worth. Late that September I did,  and the rest is history!

How did he propose?
We were leaving for a family vacation to La Jolla,  Califoria on Monday, so that meant I would be spending all weekend packing, making lists, and repacking. After work on Saturday,  I got a mani/pedi juuuust in case Todd was planning on popping the question during the trip. When I got home, Todd had his suitcase out on the couch and began telling me how he remembered packing that bag for that first trip to visit me in Jacksonville. He was being very sweet and sentimental, and all I was thinking was ‘boy,  you better get that suitcase out of the way so I can set mine there and start packing! ‘ He told me how much he loved me and a whole host of sweet things, then pointed to the other side of the room.I looked that way,  as usually that means our cat Smitty is doing something adorable or ridiculous, but nothing was there. When I turned back around,  Todd was on one knee. From there it’s a blur! I said yes,  and finally took a look at the ring. It was so gorgeous,  and he picked it out all on his own!  Packing had to wait until the next day,  as I spent an hour or so making my calls before we showered up and had a champagne-filled night out!

How did you choose your theme? Flowers? and overall wedding design?
Bringing our friends and family to my hometown – many visiting Jacksonville for the first time – put a lot of pressure on me to show our guests the best Jacksonville had to offer. Being a Riverside/Avondale gal,  the Cummer was an easy choice. I liked having an indoor and outdoor space,  so guests could see the beautiful gardens and St Johns River,  while tearing it up on the dancefloor inside.
Choice and freedom was big for us. We didn’t want to overdictate anyone’s experience. Food stations,  multiple cakes,  and seating allowed for guests to spend their evening however they wanted; relaxing outside under the Italian globe lights,standing at a table along the dancefloor, etc..
I didn’t want a theme-more of a feel-and I wanted it relaxed,  unpretentious, and allowing for the natural beauty surrounding not to go unnoticed. I love the North Florida landscape so much, especially my favorite vibrant Azalea bushes. I chose the Bridesmaids’ dress color to reflect this beautiful shade of pink. The pink lights,  green and white linens, and green/white/pink flowers all felt very ‘gardeny’ and were meant to give a Springtime feel to our Winter wedding.

What was the best part of your wedding day?
Not to sound cliche, but seeing so many of our friends and family in one space was overwhelmingly amazing.  Todd and I are blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives,  and we were so excited to celebrate with everyone.  We made a point of truly being part of the festivities, not letting it all go by in a blur like so many had warned us about. We feel like we were able to speak with,  share a laugh with,  or dance with almost everyone, and that meant so much.
Seeing my handsome groom for the first time wasn’t half bad either!  🙂

What do you want to always remember from your wedding day?
The love and laughter all around us!

“IF I only I knew!” what is one piece of advise you would give to brides planning their wedding day?
I can’t say I was always the most easy going bride (Todd’s nodding his head furiously! ). There was a lot of crying,  sleepless nights,  squabbles,  and ‘we should’ve just eloped’ moments over our 17 month engagement, but that week of, i tried to let all of that go so I could really be present. When Todd arrived on Thursday morning and I was getting ready to pick him up,  I took a deep breath, and let all of the stress, expectations, anxiety, self consciousness, and worry out. I was resolute that from that moment on, I was going to roll with it, whatever came my way. Brides deserve to enjoy their special time – for yourself, for the groom, and for the guests. The best compliment I received all day was from a Bridesmaid,  who told me how ‘cool’ I was all day. Enjoy it, ladies!
On the planning front – trust your gut. Hire people you like dealing with in addition to doing awesome work. Creating a positive relationship with your team will make the day so much better and will help you achieve the Bridal Zen feeling I mentioned earlier.
Also,  TAKE THE PICTURES BEFOREHAND! For a million reasons,  but one of them being that it allows the Bride and Groom to spend that much more time enjoying the fruits of their labor, and allows your amazing photographer to take shots of all the great people who showed up to celebrate!

And where are you going on your honeymoon?

Cheeca Lodge, Islamorada (Florida Keys)

any extra notes or details …

Be true to you. I’m not shabby chic,  I’m not modern. Todd and I love to dance,  laugh,  eat, enjoy a cocktail, and laugh some more. We weren’t worried about following trends,  or making a statement, we just wanted to create a weekend that felt like us, and we feel confident that we did just that, and that’s an amazing feeling that won’t go out of style!