Personal: My Best Friend's Wedding

At some point all my personal blogs started to become somewhat of a husband brag book. I don't know when or how it actually happened, but I do have a tremendously awesome husband and with all the man/husband-bashing there is in this world, it's nice to hear/read something about someone who LOVES, actually cherishes their husband. Recently I'd read an amazing blog post on this very subject by a good friend of mine (and amazing photographer!), Whitney Schey. And while she will have you awed by her masterfully written words and brilliantly thought-out blog, I feel the need to share just a simple story of why I think my husband is nothing short of a gift: The best man on the planet for me and the greatest man I've ever known. Here goes:

So my best friend just got married! It was the honestly the most exciting thing ever and I'd been looking forward to it since November 28^th, which, yes I care a lot, is when she got engaged! I couldn't wait to see her in a white dress, with flowers, and all gorgeous. It was just a dream for me to watch my best friend commit herself to another in love. I am a total sucker for weddings, but marriage has been the single greatest event in my life thus far. But I digress... When she told me Garrett had proposed, she wrote me a note: I really want you to be there for me when we get married next summer, so don't plan any vacas or go and get prego. Yea, well let's just say I didn't really think that would happen...but it did. IT DID!

So fast forward to her wedding. I'm 7 mos pregnant and suddenly realizing two very serious facts. 1, I was well into my third trimester and was dreading sticking out (literally) in her pictures. Or falling (physically) down the aisle in my 4” gold heels. And 2, as I was actually IN her wedding, I knew there was no way I'd be capable of snapping pictures. The latter was starting to depress me. If you know anything about me, you know that I have a slight problem NOT photographing life's big events. Make it fashionable, grogeous, or a wedding, and I'm in deep. I was trying to get a grip settling for random iPhone shots, when my husband offered to try and take pictures that captured the day for me so I didn't feel like I was missing out. Say what?! As awesome as this was, I wasn't sure if I could show him all that he needed to know in order to actually get the shots. I mean, this is no point-n-shoot, so there is a slight, er, large, learning curve to shooting entirely in manual. At Sunset. On the Beach. At the aperture I wanted. =) Yet, just the idea that he would lug around my bag(s), and keep my camera in hand at all times so I could later see Kim's day unfold made me swoon. It's probably the most selfless thing he's ever done. And while this may seem slightly silly, it was a huge deal to me.

After a fabulously long day at the wedding, at 2am back at our hotel room, J helped me put up my swollen feet in bed while I looked at the pictures he'd taken. I couldn't help but tear up at the sight of what he'd been able to capture! While I'd stayed behind and slowly waddled my way to the reception after the ceremony, Jason had followed Kim and Garrett at a distance and taken pictures of the two of them walking the beach, taking pictures, and having their wedding video filmed. It was like being given a small window into a day that I had been feeling like I'd miss. And how he was able to get so many in focus with manageable exposures made us both laugh. Between the totally black and totally white shots, the best ones were in-between. My husband cared enough to try and do what he knew I had dreaded missing. For that alone, he is the single greatest person on the planet.

Kimberly, your wedding helped remind me that I am blessed beyond measure! It makes me giddy like a child to see you in the same boat! I am so happy that you have found your soul-mate, your partner in life, and your one and only love. You will have the most amazing life and I feel so honored to have been even a small part of it! I love you Kimmy!!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All credits for the following images must go to my amazing, first-time-photographer husband. My love, you rocked this out and I will always be grateful for these memories! Muah.

Me & Kimmy!

7mos and happy...although hoping not to stick out. Lol. As if.

Okay so I did take this quick shot before you walked out, but J did the rest. ;)

I love this!! (And the dramatically artistic capture of someone's front-row arm in the photo?? Priceless!)

Me and my amazing husband:

So I wanted to physically "see" you take pictures on the beach, but I couldn't make it down the hill. Jason's view was breathtaking of you two! And his "mistake" in the second photo was perfectly awesome. =)

I guess he held your bouquet so that your awesome videographer could keep shooting. =)

A gorgeous sunset on a perfect day!!

Your wedding photographer's awesome assistant took this of J and I. ♥

Garrett, you're awesome!

This is one of my very favorite photos.

And Kim, just in case you didn't see how I spent the reception...

Kimmy, I love you more than you know. I can't wait to see you again. Hugs and Love, Shanny