Jennifer & Tony were married eight years ago today on 8.26.05 in Del Mar, California. Normally I would link to their wedding here, so you could see the original blog post of their wedding photos. But I've only been blogging for seven years, so Jen & Tony were pre-blogging days. These two hired me when I was less than 2 years into shooting weddings, so I cringe a little at my photography back then, but they insist that they love their photos, so that give me some solace.
I met Jen back in church youth group days, but we reconnected shortly before her wedding when she started her now internationally circulated bridal magazine Destination I Do. I was so honored to get in on the ground floor and shoot three of the first four covers of the magazine as well as to capture Jen's wedding. She and Tony have become dear friends over the years and I can't believe it's already been 8 years since their wedding day!
Today, in honor of these two, I asked them if they would be willing to share their favorite wedding photo and why it's so meaningful to them. They picked the above portrait, which I love as well, and Jen shared this about it:
"Phew, have eight years really gone by?! So much has happened, yet it seems like just yesterday we were in Del Mar, California with so much excitement and love in our hearts it was hard to contain it all. That entire time of our lives feels like a dream. That was the day I married my best friend, confidant, head cheerleader, partner-in-crime, life coach, lover and life-long companion. God blessed me by bringing not only an amazing man into my life, but his entire family as well. We both say regularly how we hit the royal jackpot when it comes to in-laws. We had been together seven years by the time we were married, so it seemed so natural to have our families together celebrating our official union. In a way, it didn't feel like a wedding...it felt like a week-long party. Lazy days playing in the ocean in front of the beach house my family rented, group trips to Disneyland, golf outings, betting on horses at the Del Mar race track and a five-star rehearsal dinner complete with mariachis at Tony's Aunt's house in Rancho Santa Fe forged bonds and positive retrospection. All our most cherished friends and family in one place on a group vacation seemed like a dream come true.
The memories of that time never cease to bring a smile to my face or a sentimental knot in my throat. I fail to look at each picture Melissa took without being flooded by emotion. Conversations are recaptured, songs are replayed in my head. I can smell the ocean and hear the vows we exchanged just by glancing at each image. Melissa is truly gifted because she captures so much every time her shutter clicks. She brings the saying 'a picture is worth a thousand words' to fruition.
Since that time, Melissa has photographed other extremely important times for us, namely the birth of our first son, Noah. We had been faced with multiple miscarriages so when Noah was born, prayers were indeed answered and our joy was overflowing. She photographed him at a few weeks of age sleeping soundly in our arms or in his bed and now we also have those images to look back on with more sentimental knots in our throats! Thanks Melissa...looks like a pattern has formed :)
The reason I chose this photo as my favorite, (besides the fact, and I will admit - I'm quite vain and like the way we both look in this one best) is that it reflects how relaxed and truly happy and in love we both were. I feel like the ocean behind us symbolizes that the journey we are on is sometimes rocky, sometimes calm, but always beautiful."
What a special couple you two are! Love you guys so much! Thank you for sharing so openly and for blessing my life with your friendship!
I met Jen back in church youth group days, but we reconnected shortly before her wedding when she started her now internationally circulated bridal magazine Destination I Do. I was so honored to get in on the ground floor and shoot three of the first four covers of the magazine as well as to capture Jen's wedding. She and Tony have become dear friends over the years and I can't believe it's already been 8 years since their wedding day!
Today, in honor of these two, I asked them if they would be willing to share their favorite wedding photo and why it's so meaningful to them. They picked the above portrait, which I love as well, and Jen shared this about it:
"Phew, have eight years really gone by?! So much has happened, yet it seems like just yesterday we were in Del Mar, California with so much excitement and love in our hearts it was hard to contain it all. That entire time of our lives feels like a dream. That was the day I married my best friend, confidant, head cheerleader, partner-in-crime, life coach, lover and life-long companion. God blessed me by bringing not only an amazing man into my life, but his entire family as well. We both say regularly how we hit the royal jackpot when it comes to in-laws. We had been together seven years by the time we were married, so it seemed so natural to have our families together celebrating our official union. In a way, it didn't feel like a wedding...it felt like a week-long party. Lazy days playing in the ocean in front of the beach house my family rented, group trips to Disneyland, golf outings, betting on horses at the Del Mar race track and a five-star rehearsal dinner complete with mariachis at Tony's Aunt's house in Rancho Santa Fe forged bonds and positive retrospection. All our most cherished friends and family in one place on a group vacation seemed like a dream come true.
The memories of that time never cease to bring a smile to my face or a sentimental knot in my throat. I fail to look at each picture Melissa took without being flooded by emotion. Conversations are recaptured, songs are replayed in my head. I can smell the ocean and hear the vows we exchanged just by glancing at each image. Melissa is truly gifted because she captures so much every time her shutter clicks. She brings the saying 'a picture is worth a thousand words' to fruition.
Since that time, Melissa has photographed other extremely important times for us, namely the birth of our first son, Noah. We had been faced with multiple miscarriages so when Noah was born, prayers were indeed answered and our joy was overflowing. She photographed him at a few weeks of age sleeping soundly in our arms or in his bed and now we also have those images to look back on with more sentimental knots in our throats! Thanks Melissa...looks like a pattern has formed :)
The reason I chose this photo as my favorite, (besides the fact, and I will admit - I'm quite vain and like the way we both look in this one best) is that it reflects how relaxed and truly happy and in love we both were. I feel like the ocean behind us symbolizes that the journey we are on is sometimes rocky, sometimes calm, but always beautiful."
What a special couple you two are! Love you guys so much! Thank you for sharing so openly and for blessing my life with your friendship!
+ Comment +
