First, an important note: I do not photograph weddings! Thank you for the inquiries I get so often. I am flattered that anyone would consider me with the important job of capturing their special day. But portraits are my calling, at least for now. (But I never say never!)
But when someone I love is getting married … you can bet I’ve got my camera handy! (And I have family members breathing down my neck for these shots, so I thought I better hurry and post them here before I start getting nasty notes! LOL!)
The beautiful bride is my second cousin, Kristie and her beloved, Jeff. The ceremony and reception took place this past weekend at the Piedmont Room, overlooking Piedmont Park and downtown Atlanta. The late afternoon light was splendidly soft and golden. The ceremony was so beautiful. And who is that handsome little guy in a tux, with the awesome responsibility of ring bearer? My son, I am proud to say! 
(A quick side note: he fell HEAD.OVER.HEELS. for the young flower girl. He cried when she had to return home to Illinois!)
After the ceremony, the guests waited in the lobby while the wedding party had their formal photographs. Outside, one at Georgia’s lovely late evening thunder showers began to brew. The wind bent the trees, the thunder rattled the windows and the lightning knocked out the power! We waited, and waited, and waited. The guests returned to the dining room. And waited. It was 95 degrees in Atlanta that day, and we had no a/c in the building. It became quite warm quite quickly. My heart was sad for Kristie and Jeff, for a power outage to spoil their wonderful day. But they didn’t let it.
Somehow the restaurant got the food cooked, which was all delicious. And the DJ truly saved the day. He arranged a circle of cars in the parking lot (the storm had passed over by now, and it was dark and cool outside) with headlights blazing. He connected his computer to a car stereo. And then he invited us all outside for the couple’s first dance … in the parking lot! It was a hoot! Jeff and Kristie glided gracefully and blissfully through the rest of their evening, with smiles and love and laughter and candlelight.
Chris and I felt like we were spying on our son during his first date.
Kristie’s dance with her father
A little bit of background … the journey to this day was a long and difficult one for Kristie and Jeff. Less than a couple of years ago, Kristie went to the ER with chest pains. Tests and scans revealed a large mass in her chest, pressing on her lungs. That mass turned out to be non-hodgekins lymphoma. Only in her twenties at the time, the next year brought intense treatments and side effects, radiation and chemo. Jeff and Kristie had been dating long distance at the beginning of this journey. Jeff relocated to Atlanta to be by Kristie’s side through her treatments, and along the way he proposed. Their love only grew stronger.
Just a few months ago, we all got the glorious news we’d prayed for … Kristie is in remission! And now, hand in hand with the man of her dreams, she faces the future with bright optimism. So would they let a silly thing like a blackout darken their wedding day? Never! Life throws us curve balls. Jeff and Kristie know just how to hit them!!
Jeff and Kristie, may you live happily ever after! Thank you for sharing your special day with us.
