Thomas + Susan reached out to me 2 weeks before their intimate wedding in Cape San Blas in Port St Joe, FL, which would be on my 27th birthday. Some people don’t like to work on their birthdays, but after talking on the phone with them and hearing their story, there was no way I could say no. Their dedication for each other and love for Jesus tugged at my heart strings and I knew that I was the one that needed to photograph their wedding. I’m so glad I did, because it was such a beautiful day and their ceremony held so much meaning and love. In the middle of their ceremony, they walked away for a bit to sing a worship song together and it was the sweetest moment.

I asked them to write down the story behind their choice of location and this is what they had to say. “We have always both wanted to get married by the ocean. With Susan growing up by the ocean and finding much solace, peace, and pure joy in being in the water (she is actually a former swimmer!), getting married by the ocean was a must. We initially wanted to travel to Hawaii, hike to a point, and get married but due to covid, those plans needed to be cancelled. Susan initially crossed Florida off the list, however after reconsideration and identifying the panhandle of Florida as a beautiful beach, we realized it was the perfect place! Similarly, we were only going to have Susan's best friend, Thomas' brother, and respective parents, however with it being in Florida, Susan was able to invite 3 other friends like sisters to come. Susan likes to call the location "where Michigan meets Miami" or "where the forest meets the beach". The panhandle also worked out beautifully in that Susan's best friend (Haley) from college live in Pensacola and was able to scout out the area. We were also looking at getting married off the coast of NC, however we did not have anyone to scout out the area for us. Additionally, exploring and scouting was one of Haley and Susan's favorite things to do in college together so she fit the assignment like a glove!”

Not only was their day full of meaning, but they also put a lot of thought and intention into their details. They wanted their photos to be artsy and adventurous, so we had a lot of fun running along the beach so I could catch the movement in Susan’s dress. The lanterns that they brought along were lots of fun to play with too! We started a bit later than planned, but it was cool to really utilize the light from the faux candles in the darkness. I felt as if it symbolized their story and the light that they’ve become to each other in their darkest points in life.

If you’re looking for someone to capture your unique, intimate wedding with an artistic flair, let’s talk! Tell me about your vision and let’s make it a reality.

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