Happily Ever After : Andy and Seema

The day of her wedding, I found Seema in the guest house on the grounds of Misty Farms.  She was with her two sisters, and a close family friend - quietly, but contently finishing up the remaining details in the preparation process.  A small group of women anticipating the sweet and humble bride becoming the center of attention.  She looked gorgeous.

                                                                                                                                                                                           

Just a few minute walk from where the bride and her attendants gathered, Andy was prepping for the ceremony as well.  Looking dapper while embracing the traditions of his new bride.  

Outside, the day was near perfect.  The type of day you cross your fingers, then hope and pray for when you make the decision to have an outdoor wedding. The sun was shining, and though the sky was spotted with few clouds, they were all perfect and white.  The temperature was hot,  but that only made for a natural gathering of family and friends under the biggest tree on the property.  And the fun began. 

                      

As much as I'm a sucker for traditional American weddings, I have to say that there is something big worth taking from the pre-ceremony festivities I've seen at Indian weddings.  The tradition of a procession of wedding guests filled with music, dancing, and confetti, leading the groom to the alter... is genius.   

The ceremony was beautiful.  There were friends, and priests and families involved.  A true blending of cultures, where tradition did its dance back and forth between the two backgrounds, until it finally found middle ground in the final "I do". 

The details of the day were thought out and intentional- and like the general theme of the day, beautiful.

After the ceremony, as guests made there way to a cocktail hour, the bride made the change from traditional Indian wear, to a country-chic inspired wedding gown. 

If there was one thing for certain on that day, it was that those who gathered were proud, supportive, and joyful about being a part of Seema and Andy's big day.  It was written all over their faces.  

There was so much fun had at that wedding.  2 families, 2 cultures, and 2 people who met via an unlikely turn of events.  So much worth celebrating.  It was such a gift to be able to photograph this important and special day for these two.

Special thanks to Sarah and David Reeves of SD Reeves Photography for second shooting with me that day!  They are such a talented duo, and I couldn't have captured the day the same without them! 

Clearwater Kids : Joseph and Mark

I think one of my favorite things about getting older, is the fact that friends are no longer defined by those who are in the same life stage as you.  In the past few years, people I've met via work, volunteering, and who I've had the good fortune of meeting thanks to seemingly random chance, has been enriching.

Mandy would fall in the later category.  I met her after college, when our paths crossed for a ladies bible study.  The group met every other week, and had single, married, dating, those with babies, most without, and all of us wanted to learn more about Jesus.  Sometimes we'd have meaningful conversations, and some nights we just chalked the "study" part up as loss, to make room for chatting and catching up on life.  We supported each other via prayer and advice that stemmed from life experience.  It was good.

Mandy was married with a baby when I met her.  Joseph was just a little guy.  Today though, Joseph is enjoying school and all the perks that come along with being a big brother to the newest little guy in the Clearwater house, Mark.

These little guys are the cutest.

Little boys are so much fun and full of life.  These two ran everywhere, picked up sticks, played with trucks, studied things in the dirt, and wanted to talk about what was for dinner. :)

It's so fun to know the children of your friends.  Little, fun, personalities whose lives are formed by the love of people you've had the privilege of sharing friendship with.  It does something good for the soul too.  Knowing that those kiddos are living a good life full of learning, support, and love...  and maybe having some fun too ;)