I was pretty excited about this shoot when Jenna first approached me. I mean who wouldn’t want to take off on a Monday, pop champagne on the beach and then proceed to jump in the ocean, fully clothed? And then follow it up with another bottle of champagne and an underwater shoot in one of your friends pools? Usually I am sending emails on Monday, so this was a welcomed change.
Jenna and I have been friends for several years. She has seen my style change and ideas go all over and still been so supportive of my work. When you meet Jenna, you can instantly tell she is one of those people that is always smiling and so incredibly kind to others she meets. She would joke that she was excited for me to photograph her engagement, even when she wasn’t engaged. It made me feel so special and excited to one day do that! Then in comes Josh. Sweet, loving Josh that seems to make Jenna smile even more. He was so open to my ideas as well. Especially for not knowing me too well. Things like, “Throw Jenna in the water fully clothed.” ; “Pop the champagne right over my shoulder.”; and “Hey, I am going to get a picture of your dog taking a #2 right in front of you guys kissing.” didn’t seem to phase him. 🙂 Overall it was one of the most fun engagement shoots I have ever done. And I will let ya just check out the photos. Enjoy!
KiKi
Oh Claire and Mo. How I feel so special to be able to call you friends. I met Mo almost 7 years ago at the local watering hole, Mellow Mushroom. He is apart of my great group of friends in Jax. They are not only great because they are just so fun, but that group of a dozen plus people believed in me and my career, even despite some of the weird or novice ideas I may have had at the beginning of starting my company. 🙂 Mo was also one of the first people I went offshore fishing with, which still remains one of my favorite things to do. Needless to say, they have a very special place in my heart.
A few years ago, Claire Bear came into the group with her beautiful red hair and infectious smile. Claire is not just a beautiful woman, she is one bad ass boss. She started her company in her early twenties and already has an amazing store front, another stylist and countless clients that love her talents and personality. I am so impressed by her drive at such a young age and her ability to remain so carefree along the way. So to add that to the already fun loving and kind Mo, was pretty much perfect. When they got engaged it made our whole group so happy to see two close friends start their life together.
Ya know, I could go on and on about their day and them. But I will say one thing that I really loved and let the photos say the rest. While Claire was twirling around in her wedding gown on the dance floor, with literally the biggest smile I have ever seen on her face, I went up to Mo to ask him how he was doing. Mo, putting work on his cocktail and not some much on the dance floor was looking at Claire, also with a big smile. He responded to me and said, “I am doing great! As long as she is the happiest she can be, I am.” And that’s just the kind of guy Mo is. I can’t say I have ever heard him complain or talk about himself much. He just always seems to be the one that’s happy if everyone else is. A completely selfless guy. So, congrats you two! On not only getting married, but being genuinely kind and amazing friends to me. Enjoy the blog and check out a couple things Claire had to say about the day below..
“I had dreamt of the day I would get engaged to Mo, but once it happened I was overwhelmed with the idea of wedding planning. Fortunately, my mom knew exactly where to start. Her and I worked together to create my dream wedding and the best day of my life! My favorite memory of the day was getting to ride the trolley as a new married couple, just the two of us, to the reception. It was the only moment we had to ourselves in the midst of the crazy, wonderful day.”
Lee and Jean met me at sunrise on a Friday. It was a completely cloudless, windless, gorgeous day. With us were their parents and the officiant. It happened to be a quiet morning in Neptune Beach where we shared the dock with a single seagull and that is about it.
Directly after the Ceremony Jean’s Mother embraced them both in the biggest hug. It was a sweet moment as they were essentially getting hugged by 25% of their wedding guests. Which I always thought was sweet. Sharing a moment so important and lasting in their memory. The sun hit the horizon and we spent a quiet and happy morning by the sea before a beach front brunch. And although we only spent a little over an hour together, I feel I got to get to know and share more with Lee and Jean than you would think. Thanks for smiling the whole time and making an early morning feel not so early. 🙂
Check out their sweet elopement below. Enjoy!
KiKi
These two. I wish I could say something that explains how absolutely wonderful Natalie and Nick are. From the first time I met Natalie she was all smiles. She could light up a room with her laugh and her beautiful personality. And Nick, he adores her. You could never talk to them and by looking at the two of them together, you know. You know how perfect and how in love they are. I am so grateful they found me and invited Tanner and I to their fun filled and incredibly warm and inviting wedding. I always say that if the people are wonderful, the photos will be too. Take a look for yourself…
amelia island engagement photographer
