Destination Wedding Anna Maria || Jessica & Cory

Jessica has become a very special girl around here.  I’ve had the honor of photographing her multiple times so when she asked me to travel to Florida for her wedding there was no question about it, I was there!  So, my story about Jessica is a humbling one for me and inspirational for all you brides out there simply want things a certain way.

In the final stages of Jessica’s planning we met and discussed the timeline.  Full disclosure… we photographers nearly cringe when we hear the words “we don’t want to see each other before the ceremony”!  I get it, I really do and of course, the wedding day should go exactly as the couple wish it to.  That said, in most circumstances it greatly impacts my the time we get to spend photographing the couple in a creative light.  I was pretty proud of myself with Jessica because with a little persausion she decided that they would do photos before the ceremony and I in turn danced with glee at the thought of all of that extra time to play in the sand.

Now the humbling part.  Jessica emailed me the next day, after a good mom talk and a night of wrestling with it she knew that she was going to see Cory for the first time as she walked down the aisle to the ceremony.  Defeated!  I am so proud of her!  It took a moment for me to shift from a photographer with an agenda (though it be well intended) to a sympathetic friend who wanted J&C to have the day of their dreams.

Sure enough, their photos turned out beautifully and I can officially say… I’m not always right.  Just most of the time!