Sam and Trevor’s wedding at the Inn at Millrace Pond was nothing short of perfection, despite a downpour earlier in the day, things going a bit crazy in the morning, and bumps along the way. But if any wedding has made me realize that it’s not the timelines or the events that go right or wrong that makes a wedding perfect, it’s this one. Sam and Trevor made me realize that it’s the PEOPLE that make a wedding perfect.

Trevor has been my best friend for over ten years now. As kids, we were literally inseparable, and when he met Sam, you could just SEE on his face how happy she made him. As a friend, this is something you wish and hope for your friends. To see their relationship unfold and see them go through so many triumphs over the last 7 years… it’s just truly unbelievable.

All day, when I looked at these two looking at each other, and laughing together, and sharing secret handshakes together at the altar, I kept thinking “this is true love”. I mean, any couple that stands by each other through life-altering accidents and surgeries and comes out the other side STRONGER THAN EVER is bound to weather any storm.

And storm it did on their wedding day! I got to the Inn early to photograph the bride details. But, since Sam and the girls were still at the salon with all the details with them, I roamed around to do some venue shots and help out where I could until they arrived. I have to say it’s not bad when things are running late when it means you get to hang out with your best friend on his wedding day!

Once the girls arrived, I started photographing Sam’s bridal details and her dress, and just seconds after I had it hung, it started to rain. I grabbed the dresses off the rock wall I was photographing them on and ran for the bridal suite! Literally five seconds later it started monsooning out! The sky was BLACK and the rain didn’t let up for a second.

Since Trevor is my best friend, I knew I wanted to go over to him for some groom prep, so through the pouring rain, I sprinted over to the room he and the guys were getting ready in to do some prep pictures! I brought all the details from Sam’s room so Tori, my amazing second shooter could finish those up!

While she was shooting the details, the room started to flood!! AHH! Luckily we were quick to move everything, and I got to take all of Trevor’s portraits inside. A few minutes later, the skies started to open up and the rain stopped! The forecast which originally said rain the entire day turned into a rainy morning and a beautiful (yet humid and hot) afternoon. I literally couldn’t have been happier that these two incredible people still got to have their ceremony outside on the beautiful lawn!

Before the ceremony, we had enough clear skies to take family formals with Sam and her parents, bridesmaids pictures, and respectively got to do Trevor and his family and groomsmen pictures. Sam and Trevor weren’t doing a first look, so we had to sneakily get around the property without them seeing each other!

Once it was time for the ceremony to begin, Sam hid in the bridal suite with her dad, and the guys all came out and lined up at the altar. Watching Trevor’s face as Sam walked down the aisle is one I will always have ingrained in my memory. Getting a front row seat to your best friend marrying the love of his life couldn’t get any better.

These two shared a sweet and personal ceremony, officiated by one of their friends, and again, the entire time I just kept thinking “this is true love” as I watched them look at each other with joy, finally tying the knot after seven crazy years. I couldn’t be happier for these two and I was literally one big puddle of tears the entire ceremony!

When it was time for the first kiss, they went in for a kiss and then shared a secret handshake! They were announced husband and wife and threw their hands up in celebration as they walked down the aisle. Sam’s look on her face was just overwhelmed with emotion and Trevor was clearly ecstatic to have just made Sam his wife!

After the ceremony, we took family formals, wedding party pictures and bride and groom portraits around the property. We had a spurt of rain that lasted about twenty minutes so we rearranged the timeline and went out during the salad course to get more portraits! I am so thankful these two were willing to do that, and am so proud of Trevor for walking all day after MONTHS of physical therapy getting ready for this day. (If you missed their story, you can read about their engagement session here, and see what I’m talking about!)

When it was time for the reception to begin, the wedding party hid away in the house before their entrances. The crew from Global Productions got the energy up in the room (LOVE working with them!) and the wedding party and family was introduced! Sam and Trevor came in last of course, being announced as husband and wife and the room went crazy! These two were ready to hit the dance floor, and they went right into their first dance, which again, made me cry into a puddle.

From there, they each shared the sweetest parent dances imaginable. Trevor and his mom dedicated their dance to Trevor’s uncle who passed, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was a beautiful tribute to him with Cole Swindell’s “Wish You Could Be Here”. I couldn’t stop my tears, along with everyone else, and even writing this now makes me tear up. It was a beautiful moment that was so sweetly dedicated to him. We wish he could be there, but know he’s looking down on them celebrating from up above.

After the parent dances, Kyle, Trevor’s brother, and Lianne, Sam’s best friend and Maid of Honor shared their toasts. Every word spoken just reiterated how strong and incredible these two are as a couple, and I cried AGAIN (if you’re counting, this is like the fourth or fifth time I started to cry at this wedding).

From there, Sam’s dad gave a short speech and thanked everyone for coming and then told the DJ to HIT IT. Seconds later, “Everybody Dance Now” by CC Music Factory started blasting through the speakers, and all the groomsmen got up to a choreographed dance (which was HILARIOUS by the way) to get everyone up on the dance floor. From then on, the party didn’t stop, and just minutes later, I traded my camera for my dancing shoes so I could celebrate my dear friends as a guest! My second shooter Tori, and intern Corinne took over and I am so thankful for an incredible team that allowed me to get to be a guest for the remainder of the night!

I always have a hard time putting my camera down, but this time I fully embraced it and danced all night! We danced and screamed to Blink 182, Yellowcard, Spice Girls, N’SYNC, Backstreet Boys and so much more, and celebrating the love of these two is a night I’ll always cherish.

Sam and Trevor, there are no words I can say to explain what an honor it was for me to be your photographer and be a part of this special day. I am so grateful to have you both in my life and couldn’t imagine two people more destined to be together. I love you both immensely, and can’t wait for a lifetime of adventures, bonfires, country concerts and date nights together. CHEERS!