Emotion poured from everyone in attendance on Tricia and Michael’s wedding day.

And with a story like theirs, how could it not? A few months prior to Tricia’s wedding date, her sweet daddy discovers he had a tumor on his spinal cord. His first reaction was to wait until after the wedding to ensure he could walk his beloved baby girl down the aisle, but the doctors refused. After an operation, months of pain and physical therapy, and faith in God’s will for their family, Tricia’s dad pulled through. The amazement from their friends and family was audible as he braved the steps at Clover Forest plantation with his only daughter on his arm, walking her to the alter, to the man she would spend her life with.

When we photographed Tricia’s bridal portraits, we found a lone ladybug in the wheat field beside their home and Tricia told me a story of how her late grandmother loved ladybugs. They truly believed they could feel her presence when a ladybug would appear. And sure enough, in the middle of photographing family formals, a small ladybug appeared on Tricia’s newly adorned ring finger, a sure sign to all present that her grandmother was with her on her wedding day.

It was stories like these truly authentic moments that made Tricia and Michael’s one of the most inspiring weddings I’ve been blessed to be a part of. It was my last wedding of the 2014 season, and I wouldn’t have wanted my second season to end any other way. Not only was the day so incredible, but the vendor team was a dream to work with. This was the first wedding where nearly every vendor was a friend of mine. It was an experience that made me so grateful to be a member of an industry with so many other talented creatives.

Tricia & Mike’s was also the first wedding I shot primarily on film. I adore the results, and hope you do as well. <3

The bride’s best friend was my talented friend and florist, Erica, of Black Creek Flowers. The bouquet was a surprise and a gift from Erica and Tricia’s reaction the first time she saw it was almost more beautiful than the flowers themselves.  Film Lab: Photovision Prints

Venue: Clover Forest Plantation

Florals: Black Creek Flowers

Cake: Frostings (set up with love by Amanda Burnette)

Videography: Violet Iris Studios