The Surprise Wedding

A few weeks prior to February the 13th, I got a text from a long-time client turned friend. One of her husband’s co-workers was going to have a surprise wedding and he wanted to know if I was available and open to the idea. For a second I was a little unsure. Of course, I’ve seen surprise weddings happen in the photography/videography industry, but how many didn’t happen because the bride wasn’t into it. I decided to say yes and she gave him my number. After some conversations with the groom and realizing how confident he seemed about the whole surprise, something told me it would all work out!

The groom, Jerry, had everything all planned out down to the smallest details! Now in this industry, I’ve found that the grooms don’t normally get too involved with the process so this was amazing and I definitely began to look forward to it! He made arrangements to have it at a resort in Ponte Vedra. He told her they were just having a weekend away with a few friends. What I didn’t know was that the year before they had done something similar with their friends on Valentine’s weekend in Fernandina, so she didn’t think too much of it. This year they were going to dress up and do pictures – here’s where I came in! She knew about the pictures, so we started off with both couples. We slowly walked along and set up some shots.

Once we got over the first bridge and into view of those waiting at the gazebo their song came on. Stephanie was shocked, “That’s our song!” she repeated a few times, looking over at Jerry and smiling. I told them that since someone was playing their song we needed to take advantage of it and keep walking for the pictures. They agreed. We stopped halfway for some more intimate couple photos. After I shot these we were close to the bridge, their friends snuck past and Jerry told Stephanie to pose for some headshots. While we did this he walked over the last bridge.  I talked with Stephanie for a few moments while I took some photos. She began to tell me about her story and meeting Jerry. Suddenly she looked and saw their friends and family on the other side of the bridge.

The ceremony was amazing, it was filled with so much raw emotion and after hearing some of Stephanie’s story I even got completely wrapped up in it. Watching the shock and surprise on her face give away to pure love and happiness made me tear up! After adding some images from the ceremony I will share a write up they did to share their love story with everyone. ❤

A countdown to Love – Jerry & Stephanie – Sunday, March 31, 2019

845am, T-minus 8 hours
Stephanie woke up that morning, her mind set on celebrating what would have been her anniversary with her late husband of 24 years, who passed 5 months prior.  She headed to the beach with the last few beers he left in the fridge,  with plans of riding horses on the beach and spending the rest of the day lounging in the sun and reflecting on everything that happened over the preceding two years…cancer is brutal

1145am, T-minus 5 hours
Jerry answered the phone after another long restless night, it was one of his closest friends calling to check on him, knowing the divorce proceedings that were two years in the making, of a 34-year marriage, were wearing deeply on him. Dave: ” Why don’t you and I go to the fish camp and have some lunch and a few beers”

345pm, T- minus 1 hour
After a horseback ride on the beach, a long day of remembering in the sun, it was time for Steph to leave the solace of the beach and head back to an empty home

400pm, T- minus 45 minutes
After a long lunch at the fish camp, Jerry prepares to bid his friend a thank you for “getting me out of my head”

415pm, T-minus 30 minutes
Steph loads up from the beach and begins to drive home..

430Pm, T-minus 15 minutes
Dave…” I’ve gotta get back home bud, are you going to be okay?”…

440pm, T-minus 5 minutes
Steph sees the fish camp coming up and thinks to herself, “ We would have totally stopped here for a beer after leaving the beach..”

QUICK…A HARD TURN RIGHT INTO THE PARKING LOT!!

442pm
Stephanie parks and walks across the parking lot

443pm
He sees her, she walks up the deck stairs and around the tiki hut

444pm
She leans in to order…David offers her his seat as he leaves

445pm……LIFTOFF!
The conversation started as raw and honest as any 2 strangers could be with one another. 5 hours and volumes of light, as well as deep, conversation later. The bartender advises, “Listen, you two, we don’t care where you go,  but you can’t stay here.”Two years and many healing moments later, they continue to journey…explore…and heal…together