An adventure in the heart of iconic Palm Springs with Andy and Farah.
NYC Engagements with George & Tovah
We want to extend our gratitude to Tovah & George, NYC locals, who collaborated with us on this session to create a nostalgic, film-inspired, dream of an engagement session. Their love and energy continues to inspire us.
McKenzie and Kyle's Classy Boho Fairlane Station Wedding
McKenzie Veit owns Host Rentals and has such a beautiful eye for style. I love how she married boho and elegance together for her wedding theme. Their wedding was elegant, breezy, and playful. The textures were gorgeously minimal, curated perfectly to balance old and new with artisanal and forged. The day she and Kyle were married, the weather was perfect and we had so much light to play with. We tried to honor their individual style and personalities with our approach to capturing this wedding and I feel like we truly accomplished that. Check out McKenzie’s rental company here! Then scroll to the end to see a couple of shots of how their album turned out.
Venue | Fairlane Station
Gown | Joon Bridal
Photography | LAYERS
Rentals | Host NWA
Christan and Marc's Vietnamese Tea Ceremony and American Wedding in Little Rock, Arkansas
Christan and Marc were some of the most hospitable couples we’ve ever photographed. I specifically remember Marc coming out after the tea ceremony with a plate of food for us. The whole experience was incredible. I really love the write up Claire Eliza wrote about this wedding in Bridal Musings. It completely encompassed the vibe and was such a beautiful description, so I want to share that!
“City chic in Arkansas? Yes, you heard it here first lovelies & oh is this Little Rock wedding fabulous.
Thanks to darker florals, splashes of red & dramatic photographs taken by LAYERS, Christan & Marc’s Vietnamese American wedding is ever-so-romantic. The entire celebration intertwined old traditions with modern fashion. Starting with their afternoon Vietnamese Tea Ceremony, Christan donned a gorgeous custom Vietnamese dress made modern thanks to a dramatic train & gorgeous headpiece.
For their Western ceremony, the Little Rock couple showed off how chic Arkansas can be thanks to a swanky ballroom overlooking Little Rock. In front of windows offering 360 views and a circle altar made of lush greenery, the stylish couple & their friends (seriously – wait until you see the guest fashion!) partied the night away.”
Features
Southern Bride & Bridal Musings
Vendors
Photography
L A Y E R S | @layersphoto
Venue name, catering & bartending
The Little Rock Club | @thelittlerockclubvenue
Event design & planning
Meredith Events | @meredithevents
Florals
Cabbage Rose Florist | @cabbageroseflorist
Wedding Gown
Hayley Paige Wedding | @misshayleypaigewedding
Dress Boutique
Low's Bridal and Formal | @lowsbridal
Rings
Jones and Son | @jonesandson
Bridesmaid Dresses
Alfred Sung | @alfredsungbridesmaid
Men's Attire
The Black Tux | @theblacktuxgroom
Paper Goods
MINTED | @mintedweddingscalligraphy
Cake
Patticakes Bakery | @patticakesardesserts
Rentals
Party Time Rental and Events | @partytimelittlerock
Music & Lighting
Central Arkansas Entertainment | @cae_lr
Officiant
Betty Fernau with Fernau Wedding Officiants
Tea Ceremony Attire
MARKnVYShop | @marknvy_fashion
Alex and Will's Destination Country Chateau Wedding in Southern France
Alex and Will had one of the dreamiest destination weddings I’ve ever seen. They flew all of their guests to a countryside Chateau in the south of France for a week of indulgent dining, wine tastings and adventures. I felt so honored to be a part of the experience. I’ve known Alex since we were small enough to play in her treehouse. And through all the milestones in my life, she’s been a supporter. And any of her friends will tell you the same story. Her dry wit, humble heart and loyal kinship are matched by intelligence, well-traveled taste and class. And when Will arrived in her life, their happiness together was a bright aura. Everybody could see it. So when Alex told me she wanted me to capture her wedding and do her makeup, I absolutely knew it was going to be a beautiful experience. And it was.
Photography | @layersphoto (https://www.layersphoto.com/)
Wedding Planning | Meredith Events (https://www.meredithevents.com/) Meredith Corning
Florist | @27ruedefleur (https://www.facebook.com/27ruedefleur/)
Venue, catering, bar, co-coordination: Chateau de Jalesnes (https://chateaudejalesnes.com/)
Band | Rip It Encore (http://ripitencore.com/)
Musicians | String Infusion (http://www.stringinfusion.com/)
Videography | Tu & Tara (Nguyen) (https://www.tunguyenwedding.com/)
Cake | Dea-licious Gateaux (https://www.facebook.com/dea.liciousgateaux/)
Rentals | Options (https://www.options-hire.co.uk/) and Madame De La Maison (https://madamedelamaison.com/)
Officiant/Celebrant | Mary Smith
Makeup Artist | Claire Jones (http://www.clairejonesmakeupartist.com/)
Hair Stylists | Michelle Goram Beauty (https://www.facebook.com/MichelleGoramBeauty/) and Kerrie Langfield (https://www.frenchweddinghairandmakeup.com/)
Stationery | Ciarra Claire Fine Art (https://ciarraclaire.com/)
Rangefinder's 30 Rising Stars
We never imagined we would be writing this post.
However, it is with great elation and shock that we announce that this year, we were selected for Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography of 2018!
Through the past several years, we’ve been lucky enough to capture beautiful couples in love in so many different places. And through that, we attended workshops and built relationships with some of the most amazing talent in our industry; colleagues whose work and heart moved us so incredibly. A few of those became close friends, of which we are forever grateful. They pushed us to form our own unique vision. Some of the most inspiring artists we’ve known have been named Rangefinder winners in previous years. So when we got the email notifying us of our nomination for this year’s bid, we screamed! And that was it, we never thought we had an actual chance to win this competition. We were so happy to even be nominated because about 300 deserving photographers are nominated every year from all over the world! We submitted our gallery with no expectations. When we received the final email saying that we had won and subsequently offered a chance to speak at the WPPI Conference in Vegas next February, we felt what pure shock feels like. So it’s hard to adequately express just how grateful we feel about our supportive community of clients, family, friends, colleagues and mentors who have shaped us into artists that are deserving of this honor. You have all made this possible and we are so excited to see what opportunities come from this bright new chapter in our business and our lives! We are proud to share our official submission gallery with you. You can also see this in permanent display along with the other winners on Rangefinder’s website!
Artist Story | Blake Eiermann, Los Angeles, California
“I chased a daydream and woke up by the sea”
I’ve always been different.
For the longest time, I felt that I didn't quite fit in but later learned I am able to adjust anywhere. I wasn’t made to settle into one place so I feel most inspired when I’m traveling or experiencing a new adventure. From a young age, I have always felt that I had an old soul. I sense a deep understanding of life and strive to see the big picture of every situation. With that, as I’ve grown, I've struggled through challenges that life and age has brought me. But throughout those times, I have always known there was a reason for these struggles and have tried to take away a lesson from each one. At times, life is quite difficult, especially because I'm pursuing a career that is not drawn-out or straightforward.
I always had an interest in observing things and consider myself a visual learner . Around the age of 16, I started taking photos for my school's yearbook and fell in love with the task, specifically portraits. It was such a developmental time in my life. I consider myself an extrovert now but when I was younger, I found it very hard to connect with others and struggled with social anxiety. Photography really allowed me to come out of my shell and presented opportunities for me to build a future. I started college majoring in journalism but quickly switched to filmmaking. The transition was natural and it enabled me to express and speak through a new medium, film. I have always admired the magic of movies growing up and it was so cool to be able to study something that I never thought I’d have the opportunity to be a part of while living in the south. I can’t imagine finishing college if I had majored in anything else.
Like many, I dealt with bullying growing up and found myself to be an easy target. But as I grew more into my own and stopped caring so much of what others thought, I realized that I had a knack for modeling. To me, modeling is more than just standing in front of a camera and trying to look pretty, I love the art of expression. I’ve been told before that I exhibit a since of confidence in front of camera that I don’t carry around otherwise. I guess it’s because I feel more comfortable in front of a camera than people. It’s a sense of therapy for me because I feel like I’m allowed to be whatever I want in front of the lens that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to be. When shooting other people, I always tell them not to stress, it isn’t a big deal and to just have fun with it. Over time, that is the attitude I’ve adopted.
"To me, modeling is more than just standing in front of a camera and trying to look pretty.
I love the art of expression."
While growing up in the deep south, acting was never an option but I always dreamed of doing it. Photography allowed me to come out of my shell and led to modeling and filmmaking. As I was learning about scripts, character development and directing along with my knowledge of how things look on camera, I naturally picked up acting. Now that I live in Los Angeles, I am free to peruse opportunities that will let me expand this new craft.
I’m first to admit that I’m never really sure of what I’m doing, but who does? People will always try to fit things into their own understanding and I feel that I’m constantly given options of what I “should” do. Honestly, I do care what others think, almost too much sometimes, where I struggle to find my own voice. But what I’ve learned is that you can’t make everyone happy and your life is YOUR only chance around so you have to ultimately do it the way you want. I’ve been told constantly that I need to pick one thing and stick with it or I won’t succeed. But I simply cannot function that way. I’m constantly growing and changing and don’t see why my interest or expression of art shouldn’t as well. I've never conformed and it has gotten me this far, so why stop now, you know? And I didn’t come this far to be shoved into a box and do as I’m told.
"Often times I think I may be a little crazy because the way I think and perceive things isn’t shared by the people I’ve found myself around. But I think it takes the right amount of madness to see the world just differently enough to change it. "
One of my big inspirations is James Dean. I love how he was a symbol of masculinity and a rebel. I constantly find myself feeling on the outside marching to the beat of my own drum. I also admire his iconic timeless style. And with my own style and expression I like to ride the line of masculine and feminine qualities.
And I think the world needs to keep a sense of mystery. So many people move to L.A. to be someone else but I moved here to become more of who I am. And I've learned that success really comes with perseverance. It's a gift to be a nobody in a city of "somebodies". It allows the freedom to move around the city and develop your own voice so that if and when you get the platform to speak you actually have something to say. And it is very true that life is about the journey not the destination.
"I always tend to be drawn to the grays in life, nothing is truly black and
white. In the grays, we find the complexity of life. No person or situation is as simple as it seems.
That’s the fun in trying to dive deeper into it."
I have struggled a lot with depression in my life.
What has gotten me through the lowest parts is the idea that I am loved regardless by the One who made me. My perspective is that life is a mosaic of good and bad. And that together creates an image of God that we can spend our whole lives learning about. And if we are created in his image, we can spend our life continuing to learn new things about ourselves. That is what drives me and why I always desire to fully experience what life throws at me.
Faith is a big aspect of my life. It's as if we are all on a big map trying to find our own way. No one fully knows the right way but we are all trying and all you can do is help those you meet along the way. I am a Christian who believes in a personal relationship with a God that created us. And in that I find the beauty in life, that we were created with so much complexity that our purpose is to live and experience life to the fullest. No one is perfect, but that’s not the point. Imperfection is a beautiful example of love because God loves us regardless and He will let us work things out on our own.
Aside from faith, the greatest sources of my inspiration for creating come from music, cloudy days and novel adventures. What I'm listening to is certainly reflected in my work so I love projects that evoke a mood.
I believe that artists reflect the world as they see it. So with an image that I create, I’m able to share with others how I see the world.
Josh Mhire's Anniversary Letter to His Wife Kinsey in Los Angeles, California
Dear Kinsey,
I met you when I was 16. Just a kid with a crush. Too afraid to muster up any courage to say hello. It was months until I finally said anything, and when I did, I received a simple smile. That smile. A year went by, and in that time we’d become Myspace friends. Still no actual words exchanged. I listened to every song you posted and read every blog you wrote. You’ve always been wonderful with words.
As fate would have it, we went on the same youth group trip to Chicago after we graduated. I actually had no clue you’d be going, but when I saw you signing in that morning, my heart froze.
Two full days into the trip, and I still had no courage at all to say anything, only smiles and trembling hands.
But then we all went to the pier one afternoon, and you had your camera.
Icebreaker.
I had already seen all your photography on Myspace so I knew I could confidently compliment your work. You were amazing, even back then.
And all of a sudden we were friends, just enjoying each other’s company.
Later on that trip we were paired up to organize a library together. That’s when you told me you had a boyfriend. But I didn’t care. And it seemed you didn’t either. A month later you broke up with him and decided to go to the same college as me. Thank God you did. You weren’t in the same classes as me, but at least I could see you almost every day.
After Chicago though, I had returned to my scared self, and we spoke maybe once every few days.
But thankfully one of those days you told me about the thrift store game and how you wanted to get a group of friends to play it. I could help with that. So we invited people, told them the game, and told them where to meet us that night. I got there. You got there.
No one else showed up.
I sheepishly muttered, “We should still play!” And there you were again with that smile.
So we played, and we talked. And we laughed at the ridiculous outfits we picked out for one another. You looked straight pentecostal, and I looked like a 90's mom on vacation in Orlando. We fought over who won. But you definitely won. We showed off our outfits in McDonald’s while enjoying fries and M&M McFlurries. Only got a few weird looks. After our desserts, we went back outside to our cars. You elegantly pointed out the similarities between our two vehicles (they were maroon lol), and I sarcastically agreed saying they were practically the same. Looking up at a street lamp light above them, you said, “It’s like they’re getting married!” So of course, we held a ceremony for our cars as they entered into holy matrimony. And just like in the movies, it starts down pouring. And just like Kinsey, you busted out laughing and screamed,
“Let’s have a dance party!”
So I blared “All I Ever Wanted” by Basshunter from my car, and we danced like maniacs under that street lamp as cars passed us.
That was the night I fell in love with you. And even though it’s stupid with the cheesiest lyrics, that song we danced to is truer now than ever.
"All I ever wanted
Was to see you smiling
All I ever wanted
Was to make you mine
I know that I love you
Oh baby why don't you see
That all I ever wanted
Was you and me"
It’s only ever been you, Kinsey. It’s almost been 9 years since that night, and nothing’s changed for me. I’m still that scared, 17 year old kid, in love with a wonderful, talented, beautiful woman. And here we are years later, you’re an accomplished photographer, respected in your industry, and admired by many. And I’m so proud of you, you’re everything I knew you’d become and more. The truth is though, I’ve always been terrified being with you. Because I’ve always known you’ve never needed me. I knew that reading your Myspace blogs. I knew that night in the thrift store. You’re strong, compassionate, you’re so smart, absolutely brilliant, you’re stunningly gorgeous, and you have a drive that almost no one can match. I’ve always known that about you. It’s why I’m in love with you. And you’ve made me a better person because of who you are.
I guess I’ve just always wanted to show you that I could be like you, that I could accomplish my goals, be successful, and hopefully give you everything you’d want. But I’m not. At least not now. And my biggest fear is failing you, even more so, losing you in the process. Because you’d finally see how truly weak I am. Which I am. I can sing, I can write songs, but what am I if I can’t take care of you, if I can’t be there for you? Pathetic. A failure. A waste of space. Maybe I am. But one thing still rings inside of me. I am in love with you. And you of all people know how competitive I am, to the point of obsession at times, especially with myself. And I’m not about to let that weak ass, scared teenager beat me. I’ve made a lot of stupid decisions the past seven years of our marriage because of my insecurities, but the one stupid decision that I refuse to make is give up. On you. On us. On our future together. My favorite thing in the world is to make you smile. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you smiling as long as I can breathe. You’re everything to me, Kinsey.
You’re my home. It’s only ever been you. And I believe our story is just beginning.
Sincerely,
Josh
Kata and Austin's Love Story in Northern California
“Fashion styling and dressing up has always been my bliss, that passion has grown, evolved and eventually lead me to this beautiful life and moment in time.”
At my core, I am still that little girl who would spend hours playing dress up, idolized Barbie, and discovered a passion for sewing at a young age. I was five years old when I was introduced to my first sewing project; my mother and I made pillows together. I remember we took white fabric and hand dyed the fabric pink. We then traced out three small heart shapes and my mother proceeded to machine sew the pillows together as I watched her every move intently. She taught me how to fill the little pillows and once we had them assembled, we hand embroider each pillow with a single word. Love. Joy. Hope. I was so proud of those little pink heart shaped pillows we made together that day!
My interest in sewing really took flight during a visit to a friend's house whose mother was a seamstress. As I walked through the workshop, I was intrigued by everything around me: the machines, the fabrics, threads of every color, all the strange and beautiful notions... all of it. From that moment on, all I wanted to do was sew and create beautiful clothing! My mother was always one to encourage creativity and surprised me with a beautiful gold and white 1950's Singer sewing machine. She taught me a few sewing basics and set me to creating.
As a teenager, I discovered a love for all things vintage and would often take vintage pieces and alter or re-design them into something new and beautiful. I would spend hours styling and pairing pieces together, mixing vintage with modern, creating a style of my very own. Through hair, makeup and fashion, I would create a different persona and reinvent myself on a daily basis. What fun I had! I can remember spending hours pouring over fashion magazines, enthralled with the images and super models of the era, studying the scenes, fashions, hairstyles, and the makeup. Dreaming of someday being a part of that beautiful and magical world.
“Fast forward to several years later, as I was just starting out on my journey as a fashion designer. Little did I know, in a few months time, I would be meeting and falling in love with the man of my dreams on the set of a photo shoot. I laugh a bit to myself because I was never the girl who believed in soulmates. Although, a soulmate was exactly what my heart was searching for.”
As I reflect on where the path to each other really began to take shape, I'm taken back to the spring of 2008, during my first excursion to Fayetteville, Arkansas. I instantly felt at home and fell in love with the young, artsy culture and vibe of that funky little city in the Ozarks. Later that year in the autumn months, I made the leap and set out on an incredible journey of self discovery, that would forever change me and the way I viewed world. In that pursuit of my passions, I found struggles, chaos, and uncertainty; it was in those moments of turmoil, I found my voice and called upon my inner goddess.
The year before Austin and I met, our life journeys and creative pursuits were simultaneously paving the way to each other. My path and passion for fashion design was just starting to take shape and Austin's love of fashion photography was taking flight. During that time, we were both on a journey of becoming. Our hearts were adrift, searching for something to connect to; our paths were destined to collide even if we didn't fully realize it at the time. The path to each other was fraught with storms and struggles, life lessons and growing pains; in that search for our place in the universe, striving for independence, encountering loss, heartbreak and emotionally unfulfilled relationships. We were learning what we were made of in these endeavors, misadventures and triumphs.
“In that pursuit of my passions, I found struggles, chaos, and uncertainty; it was in those moments of turmoil, I found my voice and called upon my inner goddess.”
As I recall the days, months, years leading up to our first encounter, I see the connections, the twist and turns of our lives, and the choices made, both in and out of our control that have been woven together, leading us to that fateful moment in time; that moment in time where I would find my soulmate and the love of my life.
Our hearts knew instantly that we were kindred spirits just waiting for the other. On that journey to each other, through all the chaos, struggles and heartache, we found a driving force and inner strength to follow our dreams and embrace the talents God had given; following those dreams to our mutual destiny and finding a home within each other.
Anna's Proposal at Mount Nebo
Words by Robert Brooks | Illustrations by Anna Hunter
The Beginning
I arrived at Hendrix College at Conway, Arkansas in 2008 and needed to overhaul my image and try to come into my own. One different method I wanted to try was to be more assertive and outgoing. One night I finally had my chance to not be the shy, silent boy I was and take that leap. Her name was Anna Hunter. Ever since that night, and one rather terrible pick-up line later, she would prove indispensable in making me the person I am today. Though we did have a rocky patch towards the end of our college days, she never left my thoughts. I often wandered, ‘how is Anna doing today?’ or ‘I wonder what she’s been up to recently’.
The Accident
Simultaneously, both of our personal lives both took a turn for the worst. I was involved in a workplace accident that nearly took my life. I was exposed to sulfuric acid and steam when our reactor failed. I was rushed to the hospital where I lost consciousness, awaking later in another hospital 12 days later. I spent the next month in the hospital undergoing surgery after surgery and wound care after wound care in order to stabilize and heal the burns I received. A complex process of grafting was used to help speed up my recovery. This involves taking skin from different areas of my body and applying it to the burned parts of my body. For the longest time, my back and legs were tender and unable to withstand prolonged exposure to pressure. This made lying in a hospital bed that much more severe. When the doctors deemed me stable enough to return home, I was discharged from the burn unit where care and recovery was a grueling process. On the average, baths and wound care would take upwards of 3 hours on a quick evening. Therapy to prevent the seizing of my effected limbs and appendages began shortly after my discharge.
I spiraled into a dark place between a constant dull pain of my burns and the acute pains of wound care and therapy. Unfortunately it was around this time that Anna suffered the devastating loss of her brother to a natural disaster accident. The pain we were both enduring through these dark times was deafening. We did everything we could to support each other. But I can definitely say that these tragedies were the catalyst that brought us together. It was in this darkness that I could really see the lights in my life. Family, friends, hobbies… and Anna.
The Recovery
The best part of my day was her. It was always her. I knew in my heart that she was the one. Just the thought of her was enough to bring me out of my slumps. She would come over just to read to me while I was recovering. The books were usually Harry Potter. I often listened to her cite The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, The Half Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows. I'd have to say the Goblet of Fire was always my favorite because Harry finally learned magic and became able to defend himself. It was the first time he started showing real maturity.
The Ring
It took some persistence but I was finally able to get coffee with her one morning. At that time, I revealed how I felt and that I wanted to try again. It was do or die as Anna had just informed me that she might be moving away to Washington State. Thankfully, she remained in Arkansas, and after several dates and a couple months, we decided it was time to go all in. Later that year, I started designing the ring.
The Perfect Plan
We then began talking about the future. Myself, a pursuit in pharmacy, and Anna, the pursuit of her Masters in Illustration. After a tortuous time waiting for responses, we finally heard the good news from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I then resolved to propose to her before we left for Georgia. For anyone who’s seen The Office, in many ways, I felt similar to Jim. I couldn’t wait any longer as I was just too excited to be engaged and married to Anna, my Pam. I wanted her to know just how much she meant to me and how much I loved her. I knew it had to be perfect! I finally narrowed in on what was to be the proposal: a private event with the two of us and our favorite photographer. This was my chance to show Anna how serious I was about our future together. I knew Danielle was the one we wanted as our photographer so it was imperative that I snag her before she was booked. The serendipitous part of contacting Danielle is she had every intention of contacting us with a special project she was wanting to undertake. By May 2017, Danielle and I decided in on July 2nd to be the big day.
Now came the fun part, getting Anna involved. I was able to avoid suspicion to my plot AND secure the day in question. About a week later, Danielle reached out to Anna according to plan. We had the perfect cover. Danielle introduced Anna to the idea of doing a love story photo shoot as a set of ‘test subjects’ and though this was no lie, it did not give way to the secret. Anna read to me the conversation betwixt Danielle and herself. Trying to keep my joy and excitement from spilling out, I could only make the comment, ‘yeah, that sounds really fun’ as Anna kept describing the events of which I was very well aware. Things were moving smoothly toward the big day.
The Wait
Sunday finally came and I was all versions of happy, nervous, excited, and anxious. As I donned my outfit, I discreetly took the ring out of its cozy box and placed it into the pocket on my waist coat. Though I knew it was securely tucked away in the pocket, I couldn’t help but nervously check to make sure it was still there every 15 minutes. Every hug, embrace, or form of contact caused me anxiety as I was always scared it would give away my ultimate goal before I had the chance to pop the question. As the day pressed on, I began to calm down and get into a groove with my girlfriend and hopefully-soon-to-be-fiancé. After a full day of photos, our final shoot location was all that remained.
The Big Reveal
Anna unfurled her folded piece of paper, on which contained the reasons she loves me, or so I had planned with Danielle. What was actually on the piece of paper was a poem that encapsulated everything I ever needed to hear from Anna to know that what I was getting myself into was exactly what I’ve always wanted. As she finished up and I wiped the tears from my eyes, it was my turn. The words began to flow from one idea to the next. Each one building off the other, but through my nervousness and anxiety, I can’t recall most of what I said in the preamble but the one part I will never forget is the reaction I received when I gave her the line, “…and from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry.” At those words, her expression went from joy and cheer to confusion and worry. Knowing I had a very short time to keep happiness intact, I continued on. “I’m sorry that I lied to you one more time.” After that, I dropped to one knee and pulled the ring out of my pocket. As I presented the ring her eyes lit up and she was rendered speechless. When I finished speaking, there was a silence that continued for much longer than I anticipated. Pretty sure she was stunned! The moments dragged into what seemed like hours until her words finally caught up with her stuttering nod. She said ‘Yes’…. ‘Yes’, ‘Yes!’…. ‘Yes!’ and we embraced with Debussy’s Claire de Lune playing in the background. It is my belief that Anna deserves fun surprises for candid memories, pampering to her hearts content, and most of all, someone who will support her in all her endeavors with all their strength, all their heart and all their soul. That is what that ring represents. Until death do we part.
The Great Adventure
When people discuss a proposal, they always talk about how it’s one of the scariest things you will do in your life. As someone who has recently done such as that, they are correct! What they don’t tell you is the exhilaration and the elation you feel alongside those anxious worries that creep in. For all that I am and all that I will become walking side-by- side with Anna, this event is one I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Amber and Jeff's Alaskan Adventure
On August 1st, 2014 I packed my car to the max and moved 1,027 miles across the country to Bethesda, Maryland to work as a travel nurse. On that summer day I chose to leave my loving family, best friends and my job. I left behind the comfortable life I had in Arkansas in search of something more. I wasn’t sure what that “something more” was and I was uncertain that I would ever find it. But I knew I had to travel. I had to get lost. I had to find myself and with a little luck I found him.
I was excited and absolutely terrified at the same time. What if I didn’t make it? But what if I flourished? I ended up staying in Maryland for eight months then traveled on to New York City where I explored for six months. While in these two cities, I learned more about myself than I ever thought imaginable. I loved and I lost. I fought and I failed. I learned what things I wanted in my life and what things I did not. The whole year was a whirlwind of emotions and lessons that I will forever be thankful for. Because of traveling I was able to recognize how strong I really am.
There’s something about being surrounded by the unfamiliar that gives you strength. Maybe it’s because you are free to be the purest version of yourself or maybe it is just because you encounter more opportunities the farther you get from your doorstep.
The beauty of it, though, is that the world won’t judge you for your mistakes. And if the people in it do, it won’t matter because you’ll be on to the next place soon enough.
I was finishing up my last week in New York and was all set to head to Texas next when my recruiter called me and told me that the hospital had canceled my contract. She told me not to worry, that it would all work out. By the end of the week she had me a job offer at a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. A few weeks later, I was settled in my new apartment, only a two hour drive from home. I worked my first few days in a lab with people who left a good first impression of the place. And then, in the middle of all my chaos, there was Jeff. He was a full time nurse there in the cath lab where I was going to be for the next thirteen weeks. One of our first conversations was him rattling off a handful of jokes that actually made me laugh, even the stupid "knock knock" one. He claimed he had to get a feel for my sense of humor. I could not tell you if I loved him the first moment I saw him or if it was the second, third or fourth time; but I do remember the first moment I looked at him and realized that somehow the rest of the world seemed to vanish when I was with him. It's amazing how love finds you when you least expect it. Jeff and I became buddies without expectations. Over the next few weeks he became my closest friend. We were constantly joking and sharing funny pictures and videos we found on the internet. I’m certainly sure our co-workers recognized what was happening before we did. We stood there in the room, just friends, while everyone could see that we were only existing for each other.
As the weeks passed, our friendship grew deeper. We talked about our friends, family and our love of football and dogs. I filled him in on all the details of my past year traveling and he told me all about his busy life and his experience of owning a gym while still working at the hospital. We both knew that we had met someone special but neither of us were looking for anything serious. I had just recovered from an unhealthy relationship that left me doubting that love still existed. I believe that every painful love I have been through was just an incident to crack open the deepest parts of my core and allow me to explore a passion so rare that I would find a love that was almost never meant to be. I was only in Memphis for a short amount of time. My contract was nearing the end and they hadn't offered an extension yet. He was so busy between the gym ownership and the hospital that he didn’t have much spare time. I knew there was no way this would ever work out.
The extension offer finally came and towards the end of December. At the time, Jeff was hosting an ugly Christmas sweater party at his house. Of course I helped him plan this shindig. We worked on our own ugly sweaters, Christmas decorations, lights and food. And it was during the crafting of a solo cup Christmas tree that our fate was set in stone. We were so unexpectedly compatible. We shared the same strong beliefs, a similar sense of humor, morals and values, and very close dreams and aspirations for the future. I knew right away that he was it. Was I ready for love again? When someone makes you feel alive again, well it is worth the risk. I could tell he was just as scared to love as I was, but yet we both carelessly climbed into each other's embrace and before we knew it love had found us. To say our love has been the greatest adventure would be an understatement.
“There’s something about being surrounded by the unfamiliar that gives you strength. Maybe it’s because you are free to be the purest version of yourself or maybe it is just because you encounter more opportunities the farther you get from your doorstep.”
“There isn’t any questioning the fact that some people enter your life, at the exact point of need, want or desire - it’s sometimes a coincidence and most times fate, but whatever it is, I am certain it came to make me smile.”
Ari and Sam's Dominican Republic Elopement
One of the most intimate depictions of a couple we have crafted yet is the story of Ari and Sam's elopement in the Dominican Republic. With open hearts and pure honesty, we spent two days roaming the island in a introspective journey that eventually led to sacred vows. The following story was written by Ari.
On the morning of August 21st, 2013, in the front row of an Astronomy classroom, our lives changed forever. I flurried in a minute late in a pink trench coat, hair still wet from a rushed shower, and quietly sat down next to a tall, well-dressed guy wearing blue wingtips with pastel sox. Neither of us were feeling very hopeful about our love lives at the time. We had both had a tumultuous year, and Sam had thrown himself into his passion for mathematics, studying for hours on end, while I was uncertain about the future and didn’t know what I wanted out of life.
We may not have known our fate, but it didn’t go unnoticed on Sam’s part that a pretty girl had chosen to sit right next to him. I too noticed that he was quick to join the study group I invited him to, even though he was a brilliant student and had absolutely no need for a tutor. After a few weeks of discussing the Doppler effect, catching each other’s eyes over the lab room table, and developing private jokes, we found ourselves in a cafe, stepping into the rhythm of effortless conversation, probably irritating the waitress by ordering nothing more than two teas and lingering, completely engrossed in each other.
“We had no idea that we would soon uplift, adore, teach, and passionately love each other in ways we didn’t think existed outside of movies and books. Soon, everything that had ever happened to us, good or bad, would be reconciled and finally make perfect sense because it all had made our lives together possible.”
“Afterwards, we wound up at an electronic music show in a dark, very hot theater at a modern art museum. We were nonetheless exhilarated to be together, and when he held the door for me on the way out, gently grabbing my shoulders to move me to the inside of the sidewalk (a classic, gentlemanly move I had never heard of until then), I completely forgot about the atrocious techno music ringing in my ears, and swooned over the feeling of being cherished and respected in a way I had never known. I could tell by the way his lips curled at the edges that he had enjoyed the night just as much as I had, and there would be many more dates to come.”
“We would later laugh about how terrible the music was, but what I didn’t tell him for a long time was that when his green cashmere sweater grazed my skin on the armrest we were sharing, I shivered and had a simple thought strike me, clear and true: “I am going to marry him.”
As our relationship developed, the serendipitous and fateful “coincidences” from our past that we discovered astounded us. We found out that the hardware store his family had owned for over 100 years was right behind my grandparent’s house, and our families had known each other for generations. Sam went to high school with my uncles, and I went to high school with his cousin. All this time, we had been running in the same circles, just barely missing each other, but our lives had finally aligned. We decided we didn’t believe in coincidences anymore. These were all blazing signs from the universe, telling us our paths were meant to join.
Sam encouraged me to rediscover my passion for writing, get my poems published, and earn an English degree with honors, while I stood by him as he delved into his love of mathematics and realized his dream of becoming an actuary. From wondering where rent money was going to come from to oceanside hotel rooms in paradise, the two of us have worked to manifest a life of prosperity and joy, never limiting one another or allowing each other to say “I can’t do it”.
Over the next four years we built a life together involving various tiny apartments, two crazy chihuahuas, a spontaneous trip to Cuba (and other wild traveling experiences), the invention of many recipes, death-defying ski lessons, even more death-defying slippery drives on mountain pass roads, inside jokes, salty ocean kisses, “I’ve-never-told-anyone-that” moments, convertible rides, good beer, late nights, spontaneous trips to random county fairs, dancing, cuddles, tears, obstacles, and all the love we could ever want.
We’ve made it through sweltering summers without air conditioning, scrounging up quarters to wash our clothes, and we have sipped champagne with gold-flaked desserts at the Ritz Carlton. We’ve weathered some of the darkest days imaginable hand-in-hand, and we’ve spent other days in absolute bliss. We know when to be good influences on each other, and we know when to throw caution to the wind and be partners in crime. Through trials and triumphs, we have been each other's constant ally.
With our love story in mind, we were moved to tears, laughter, more tears, and absolute euphoria as we stood on a beach at dusk in the Dominican Republic and recited handwritten vows that we had already made in our hearts years ago.
Although we chose to wed privately, our loved ones surrounded us in spirit, and we are grateful for their support as we set out to live the rest of our days together: for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do us part, and beyond.
Dagan and Mallori's White Beach Wedding in Pensacola, Florida
Dagan grew up running around my house, getting into shenanigans with my little brother, Brandon. I've never known a more fun-loving duo in my life, even if that fun meant trouble. The stories are hilariously entertaining. During their junior year of high school, Dagan met Mallori and it really changed his views on life and his personal goals. So much that he's developed into a successful young businessman and entrepreneur. He's a supportive member of his local community in any way he can help. And he credits Mallori for being his support and driving force. Mallori recently graduated medical school and is now a registered nurse. These two high school sweethearts have a great start on life and take having fun seriously. I've never known such a spontaneous couple with a passion for "Leven the good life!" Just scroll through their wedding and you'll see why. Their outgoing and light-hearted nature was expressed in almost every moment of their wedding day. The whole experience exuded a radiance you can only achieve by having a life of joy. With their best friends and wonderful family surrounding them, you can see why they have just that.
So cheers to this adventurous couple! May your love for life ensure that the shenanigans will never end.
-Danielle
