Where do I begin this blog post? Andrew and Vanessa’s Skyview Golf Club wedding was one I’m never going to forget. To be honest I need to start this blog post way at the beginning for some context. I’ve been friends with Andrew for as long as I can remember. We have pictures together from soccer when we were five, had classes together in elementary school, remained best friends through high school where we both did ski team together, and eventually after a decade of hanging out, his family became my family and vice versa. I’m pretty sure we used to call each other’s parents Mom and Dad, so needless to say, for that reason alone, I was honored to be a part of this wedding day.
Right after high school ended for Andrew and I, Vanessa came into the picture like a firework. I remember ALL of it happening. I remember skyping Andrew from my college dorm about the girl he had started talking to, I remember when she asked him to her senior prom, I remember prom night and all of us taking pictures together (I gotta dig those up someday) and I remember sitting next to these two happy kids on the school bus back from prom.
I’m not sure if any of us knew that ten years later I’d be photographing them as they promised forever to each other. But my gosh am I glad that’s the case.
The day started for me at the bridal suite at Skyview Golf Club. I got into the bridal suite and saw Andrew’s mom and immediately we both started tearing up while we caught up on life. Vanessa was getting hair and make up done and I started freaking out out of pure excitement that the day was FINALLY HERE. She was a sight for sore eyes, and we joked that Andrew was going to die when he saw her, and well… let’s just say it was pretty close.
I photographed her ring on a piece of twine because their wedding song was “Diamonds or Twine” and it was glued onto a piece of wood from the Christmas tree they cut down when Andrew proposed. I mean – how special is that?!? I photographed the rest of her special details, including a necklace that was Andrew’s godmothers, and some special pieces from her moms veil and bouquet that we put into the bouquet.
While I was with the girls, Andrew was getting ready with his dad and groomsmen at a nearby hotel with my second shooter, Monika! They had a ton of fun and goofed off all morning, and naturally took pictures with Andrew’s truck for a few group shots.
Then, it was time for Vanessa’s first look with her dad. It was tear filled and beautiful, and we jumped right into bridesmaids and family pictures after that. Vanessa and Andrew were not doing a first look so we were staggering the time they spent outside for portraits before the ceremony so that we didn’t have to steal everyone for cocktail hour.
The bridesmaids wore navy knee length dresses and had amazing pops of color in their bouquets. I LOVE how it looked! After all the formals were done with the girls, the guys came out for groomsmen portraits and then we hid everyone inside while guests began to arrive for the ceremony.
The ceremony was outside overlooking the mountains on the golf course and we could not have asked for a better day. It was around 80 ish with a light breeze and barely an ounce of humidity. It was PERFECT!
Vanessa’s flower girl brought Andrew a note when she walked up the aisle from Vanessa and I’ll never know what it said but Andrew burst into tears and cried for the rest of the ceremony and then some. Vanessa was also in tears as she walked up the aisle with her dad. She said that they believe her grandparents are represented by dragonflies in heaven and as she walked up the aisle with her dad, two dragonflies flew beside her all the way up until she met with Andrew. (Okay, I’m crying just writing that!)
These two were all smiles and tears at the same time during the entire ceremony and I had a few friends in the audience that giggled at me when they saw how much I was bawling my eyes out behind the camera. Truly, I wish the pictures did justice to how beautiful the ceremony was. There are no words to accurately describe the deep love they have for each other. Andrew and Vanessa’s parents were also all tears from the front row – these two have been a part of each other’s family for a decade and I know how happy all of them were to finally have this new united family solidified by their marriage. GOSH. I’m so happy right now writing this. AHHHH.
After the ceremony, we took family formals and wedding party pictures on the golf course! We celebrated the start of forever for Ness and Drew, and also praised God for health and family and all being together to witness their marriage. These family pictures are some of the most cherished photos for me of this day.
After all the group shots were done, it was finally time for some Bride and Groom portraits!! We ventured around the golf cart paths as the sun was setting for some magical portraits during golden hour and these two couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. When we were done, they lined up for their reception intros and the night continued with great music, good food, great toasts, some more tears, and so much laughter.
Vanessa and Drew, honestly I can’t put into proper words how honored and thrilled I am that I got to be a part of your wedding day. I love you both so much and witnessing your relationship from the babies we were in high school to the incredible people you’ve grown into both individually and as a couple is amazing. I can’t wait to see what your future holds and I know it will be absolutely amazing. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! Cheers to forever!!!!
Thank you to these incredible vendors for making the day possible!!
Second Shooter – Monika DeMeyer
Assistant – Sydney Thomas
Wedding Cake – A Little Cake/Le Petit Gateau
Bride’s Dress Boutique and Bridesmaids Dresses – Park Avenue Bridal
Bride’s Dress Designer – Pronovias
Bridemaids Dress Designer – Hayley Paige
Groom and Groomsmen Attire – Men’s Wearhouse
Florist – Moody Blooms
DJ – Global Productions
Hair Artist – Cassie Webber
Makeup Artist – The Mane Event
Stationary Design – Minted
Catering – SkyView Golf Club
Ceremony and Reception Venue – SkyView Golf Club
Officiant – Celia Milton Wedding Services
[…] high school and I photographed their wedding, which you can read more about on their blog post here!! It seems as if my days have been filled with seeing my past couples and clients lately and to be […]