Every now and then, it's by fate that a couple comes my way, sort of accidentally looking for a photographer.  Most of my wedding couples are referred to me by family members or friends who trust me to take care of them, such is the case with Kailey + Ben.  Ben's cousin mentioned my name, I met with Kailey and it was a beautiful fit!  So thankful for such sweet people who send others to me!  Looking through the images from this wedding, my heart swells with love for this couple.  Kailey is a nurse, while Ben is a firefighter/EMT.  Their daily lives are spent giving aid to others, in ways that most people can't understand.  They deserved a perfect day, and in spite of it all, they got it.

The forecast for the day was thirty percent chance of rain, but when we arrived at the wedding venue, the clouds were in full coverage, threatening rain.  As a photographer, the clouds didn't bother me, as they gave some really awesome diffused light; but as a supporter of the bride and her vision of their wedding, the impending rain made me nervous.  The reception had been set up earlier in the day using outdoor big bulbed lights, paper lanterns in shades of purple, and gorgeous centerpieces.  The guest tables were whimsical and eclectic, using candle lanterns, glass bottles with wildflowers, and mirrored vases full of floral variety. Reception details were captured, the bride was in her dress, bridal portraits and bridesmaids were photographed, then down came the rain.  Big drops landed on the bridesmaids as they hurried Kailey inside, undamaged by the water.  The rain was heavy for thirty minutes.  We scurried over to take photos of the groomsmen and Ben while it rained.  Ben was unphased by it.  After the rain stopped, the clouds continued to cover, and through it all, Kailey and Ben's spirits were not dampened.  

The ceremony was full of love, flowers, and personal touches: a hand-binding ceremony, two close friends sang, poems by their mothers, and a prayer by a family member.   Guests sat beneath an open air chapel, enjoying the first wedding ceremony in this venue.  The wedding party walked in from the center aisle sprinkled in roses with their dresses flowing in the breeze.  Kailey made her grand entrance on her father's arm, never taking her eyes off of Ben as he saw her for the first time all day.  The ceremony gave way to the reception, which, as it darkened, became romantically lit from the strings of light.  Kailey and Ben made their grand exit through a tunnel of sparklers held by well-wishers.    

As the maid of honor, Lauren, put it, "Kailey!  Its EXACTLY like your Pinterest Board!  You actually did it!".  So many DIY projects were done by Kailey, and her family and friends.  Their day may have gotten rained on, but it didn't stop the guests from enjoying themselves, or the bride and groom from having the best day of their lives.        

From Kailey:

Ben and I met while I was attending college at the University of Florida.  It was October of 2009 and a mutual friend introduced us. The first time I saw Ben I knew there was something special about him.

Since that day it was history!! We were together ever since. Not only did I think that he was super cute, but he makes me laugh and is such a gentleman. I knew I had hit the jackpot and he was a keeper! On June 31,2013 he proposed in historic St. Augustine Florida.

Fast forward to September 6, 2014: our wedding day! The inspiration for the theme of our wedding “Southern Chic” was the venue that we stumbled upon while searching for a location in our area. Once we checked out the venue in person we fell in love with the site and knew it was the perfect place to say "I Do" . It was peaceful and had "southern charm" written all over it.

Wedding planning was a lot of fun for us both. It was a team effort in decision making and the we were able to get a lot of help from our family in making the special touches for the day! Over the course of our fifteen month engagement, we collected items that we could work into our theme, such as frames, handkerchiefs for guests and the old hutch for the jams. The wooden welcome sign and scripture board were hand painted by my aunt. The cross which we said our vows in front of was hand built by my uncle, which makes it even more special. While a lot of the DIY items were created by our families, other unique touches were sought through sites such as Etsy (the soft robes, beautiful jewelry, the “Here Comes The Bride” sign which was held by the flower girls). Although it was a lot of hard work, the day ended up being was more than we could have ever imagined!!