Holly & Hamilton Beach Wedding | Part 3

Yes, it's taken me three posts to present this wedding to you.  Hopefully you're not sick of me and wishing I would just get to the point where they say "I do"!  There are a few things I've realized over the past three days as I've finished getting Holly & Hamilton's pictures ready and posting them... 1) I like to take pictures, lots of them. 2) I have a really hard time narrowing down to a handful of favorites. 3) I tend to take far more vertical than horizontal pictures.  While I was at a shoot today I realized I was doing it again so I forced myself to mix it up a bit more.  So we'll see.  But I digress...

Holly's brother Michael had the honor of conducting the ceremony and he did a wonderful job!  It's been such a joy to watch him grow since I first met him on our mission trip to South Africa five years ago.  As the sun set behind the buildings, the beach glowed.  Holly and Hamilton were nothing but smiles and everyone - including those watching from the balconies overlooking the beach - was so excited for them.  It was one of those ceremonies that was personal to the couple and their families, honoring to God and just overwhelmingly joyful.

Congrats again, Holly and Hamilton.  Many blessings as you continue this journey of life together!!

As I said before, Lana did a FABULOUS job on getting everything ready.

 

 

 How adorable is she??

Even though they'd already seen each other, she was so excited to walk down the aisle!

 

Beautiful.

Holly, you are gorgeous.

They included Hamilton's daughter in the ceremony by presenting her with a necklace that held a charm that
signified their families coming together. She is such a precious girl and they make one good looking family!

Married!

Not very often are you able to get a group shot of everyone that was at the wedding! I love this.

And I love this too...

Annnd... I love this one.

Ok, maybe I love them all.

Precious perfection.

Night shots on the beach with a full moon?  Yes, please.

Be still my heart...

There's something that kids just love about talking or singing into a microphone.  So much fun!

I usually don't post pictures of myself from a wedding that I'm shooting, but as you've been reading, this one is a little different.  We had three summers in a row where the three of us went on a mission trip together.  Luckily, this one turned out much better than the last one we took (which was in Ukraine at the end of the week when we were all exhausted and trying to leave for the airport!).

When Lana and Myrna were talking about the throw-away bouquet before the wedding, I looked at them and asked if there were going to be any other single people there besides me and the kids.  They said probably not so I asked why Holly was going to throw it when she might as well just hand it to me!  Well, they wanted her to toss it so she did.  Don't mind the bridesmaids, one of whom is expecting and the other who is engaged.  They were simply stand-ins so that I didn't look quite so pitiful :)

Hope you guys enjoyed your destination wedding and that the honeymoon was fabulous!

Check back soon for a slide show of their wedding weekend!

Holly & Hamilton Beach Wedding | Part 2

I love being a part of the bride getting ready.  There's anticipation, there are details, there's excitement... and it's just fun!  Holly, you are beautiful, but with that dress on, your make-up looking fabulous, and your hair just-so (thanks to Hamilton's mom!), you were radiant.

This was from the balcony of the condo and while it was a beautiful setting for such an
important event, this just reminds me how small we are and how big God is...

This was just before their First Look.  I adore First Looks because the bride and groom get to see

each other for the first time before the ceremony, have some time to themselves before the big event, and it leaves
plenty of time for pictures without having to feel the need to rush and get to the reception.

Aaannnnd... you get to have pictures like these...

Warning: These following pictures are going to get HOTT.  I mean, have you seen these two? 
They're gorgeous.  So get ready for some fierceness. 

See, I told you.  Fierce.  Get.It.Girl.

Anyone need a magazine cover?  Hott.

You girls are fabulous.  And gorgeous.

Guys, you're not too bad either ;-)

I just can't begin to express how wonderful it was to spend four days with these ladies.  Love you all!

Stay tuned for Part 3... the ceremony and the reception!

Holly & Hamilton Beach Wedding | Part 1

Wow, what a weekend.  As I mentioned in last Friday's Fabulous Friday post, I've known Myrna and her family for five years now (wow, where has the time gone??).  So, instead of just being the wedding photographer, I was there as a friend, helper, honorary family member and was even inducted as a "Wedding Idiot" (more on that later).  So, post #1 includes the getting ready portion of the weekend and the Rehearsal Dinner.

Holly and Hamilton actually met a while ago when she was working at a restaurant in Jackson, MS.  He would come in and sit at the bar just so he could talk to her.  Rumor has it he even left her a $100 tip once.  :)  As their lives took them in different directions, God finally brought them back together... just when the time was right.  The more time they spent together, the more they fell for each other and the more Holly's family saw how right they were together.

Holly and Hamilton, thank you SO much for letting me be not only a part of your weekend and your wedding, but a part of your lives.  I love getting to see how God has worked and how He continues to work in each of you.  I hope you are having a blast on the cruise and that you enjoy these pictures when you get back!

Lots of work was done in the condo, but don't worry, beach and pool time were scheduled in.

 Marriage is a lot of work, but these two make it seem easy (has a lot to do with those Key Dates! ha!).

Oh goodness, it's always an adventure with these two...!

Brit was working hard and Mike was, well... probably checking on football scores :)

Brittany has a built-in work station until mid-December when her second baby girl is due!

Myrna and Sue were getting a head start on the delicious food.

Lana is incredibly talented and creative.  Some of these are just a sneak
peak of what all she did in terms of decorations for the wedding!

Hamilton's family arrived super late Thursday night so they waited to come by Friday morning.

Ok, WI = Wedding Idiot, but not because they are idiots!  You know how when you get on a mission and there's so much going on and you have a choice of either going crazy or laughing your head off or ending up with a combination of the two?  That's a Wedding Idiot :)  Wi #1 is Lana's sister Penny who sent her stuff and some of her talent in Lana so we could get everything done!  I became a Wi on this trip but instead of being #5, I have my own category, Wip-1... Wedding Idiot Photographer.  Sadly we didn't get my shirt until after this pictures and never thought to get a picture with all of us!

When we went to the beach for the rehearsal, I asked Brit to pose so I could figure out the lighting.  The clouds were incredible and she was wearing an adorable maternity dress so I took a few maternity pictures for her.  How gorgeous is she??

Daniel is Holly's cousin and is a super talented musician who played for the ceremony.  

His adorable fiancee Holly came for the weekend too.  Aren't they so cute?

The lighting + a guitar + a couple in love = fabulous pictures.

I love them.  And I love how much they love each other!

The same weekend I shot Holly's bridal portraits, I was able to do 

Ashley and Michael's engagement pictures - so, they were already pros at the posing thing :)

Oh Michael... thanks for making us all laugh!

 

Holly's granddad talking at the rehearsal dinner.

Hamilton's daughter is so precious... and so much fun!  And I just adore this picture.

Brittany and Holly have been best friends forever.  And they were wearing Clemson colors - 

what's not to like about either of them?? :)

Again, I love capturing people in love.

All of you are amazing.  Thanks for letting me share this weekend with all of you!