Wow where do I begin with Amanda and Nick, I have spent so much time with them over the last couple months. Its hard to begin their story and even harder to pick photos to show you. They are such a wonderful and beautiful couple I want to pick all the photos. However I tried to narrow it down there will be a lot and I will break it up for you all to try to make it easier to view. But for fun they are not going to be in chronological order, and in each post I will tell you a little bit about Amanda and Nick.
Well this past Saturday Amanda and Nick had their reception in the backyard of Nick’s parents home in Yorkville, the place and the reception was amazing, you would never guess it for a “backyard reception,” and I will post those photos after I show you all the Jamaica pictures. However, I wanted to start with something that was said at the end of the night on Saturday. One of the guests asked Amanda how we knew each other, if we were friends, we looked at each other and said “We are now.” After sharing the Jamaica experience together, two engagement sessions (yes we included a second to get shots of the dogs and better weather), rehearsal dinner photos, full day of wedding photos, an ever after session/trash the dress, and a great reception party back in the Chicago suburbs we know each other quite well. That may have been the most photos or days of photos I ever took for a “client,” and I wish I got to know all of them so well.
Amanda first found me on myspace-yes crazy as it seems. Imagine my surprise when I got a message saying I am getting married in Jamaica, I love your work and want to talk to you about photographing the wedding. -Yeah I didn’t think it was real at first either. But the minute I met Amanda and her mom Kathy for coffee I knew we would get along great and become good friends.
I finally met Nick for the engagement session many months later. It took me a little longer to warm up to him, but every day I spend time with Nick I liked him more and more, and I saw just how much love Amanda and Nick shared. Nick has a great sense of humor, but it took me a day or so until I got it, then I found myself just laughing and laughing. And I am sad that the wedding, the longest wedding as their friends dubbed it since it was 4 days in Jamaica and then 2 weeks later was the reception back in Illinois, is over. I enjoyed meeting their friends and family who welcomed me and my fiance and made us truly feel like part of the family. Jamaica and the reception in Yorkville was a great experience that I was blessed to be a part of and capture on film (well digital film). Thank you Amanda and Nick and to all your family and friends for allowing me to be there with you through it all. Best wishes to you!
And without further ado, I will start the photos with the happy couple’s ceremony barefoot on the beach 🙂 in Negril Jamaica at Beaches on July 5, 2008.
Despite heavy rain showers all day, the rain stopped (as it always does for them) and the sun peeked through the clouds and Amanda and Nick got the wedding they dreamed of.
The wedding coordinator was all smiles as she held an umbrella and escorted Amanda and the girls from their room to Negril, Jamaica’s famed 7-mile beach.
Nick sees his beautiful bride Amanda for the first time.
Her father gives her away.
Amanda and Nick wrote their own vows which were so sweet and although there was talk of trying to memorize them, I was happy when they decided to read off their sheets.
“Amanda I love you so very much…You are my life, my rock…”
“Nicholas I love you. You are my best friend…my husband, faithful partner in life…I will lift you up, support you…encourage you in all the things you do…….today, and all the days of our life.”
And with this ring…
“Cmon man push,” says the marrying official as Nick places the ring on Amanda’s finger.
Amanda and Nick choose to have a sand ceremony, where they pour two containers of different color sand into one container. The flowing sand and blending of the colors symbolize the bringing together of two lives into one.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss…”
Congratulations Amanda and Nicholas!
Portraits, details, getting ready and reception photos from the wedding along with the other days of photos coming shortly.