Shabby Chic Barn at Saxon Manor Wedding | Brooksville, Florida | C & C

Congratulations to Cali & Chris who were married at the Shabby Chic Barn in Brooksville! This wedding was incredibly special to me, as these two individuals are very special people to me. It is not every day that you get to photograph one of your dear friend's weddings - but that is exactly what I got to to here! I first met Chris {he likes to remind me that out of every wedding I've photographed, he was the first groom that I ever met before the bride!} exactly a year ago when we got together to sign contracts. Shortly after our meeting, an engagement session was scheduled but then cancelled because Cali had woken up with a puffy and red eye from her contacts. We postponed the engagement session for two months until after the holidays {I now understand why we needed to wait until after Christmas, right Cali??} and finally met up in the beginning of February. I later found out that Cali was nervous for the session and nervous to meet me but Chris assured her, "Don't worry-she's cool!!" {thanks Chris!!}  Immediately following the session, which is one of my all-time favorites, Cali and I clicked right away. We spent hours texting every night about everything imaginable - Chris jokes that we were co-writing novels with each other. I wouldn't have it any other way. For a while Cali referred to me as "her photographer" but soon I gained a name in her circle of friends and we became much more than a photographer/client relationship. She became a best friend. Throughout the year we shared joys and we shared pains; we met each others' friends and family; we formed a bond that is hard to find in a chaotic world. And then after months of talking about it, her wedding arrived. I knew that this was going to be an event I would remember and cherish forever...it was also going to be an event that seemed impossibly hard to stay professional at. I was given permission to be the friend and the photographer at the wedding and through my camera lens I did just that. From the moment I arrived and hugged all her bridesmaids and then saw Cali sitting in the makeup chair emotions started flowing already {I think its a good thing I had a camera to hide my tears behind!} The entire day was emotional for everyone - this group of people grew up together and share a love that is everlasting. Tears from the bridal party, tears from Cali and Chris, and tears flowing from me occurred at every important moment. I apologize in advance from the sniffing you'll probably hear on the videographer's footage as I stood next to him during the ceremony {haha!} But seriously, this entire day was perfect. From the vows, to the toasts, to their dance and then the songs Chris sang to his new bride during the reception...it could not have been more beautiful. God blessed these two when he brought them into each other's lives and he made the absolute perfect pair. This was made pretty obvious when both of them went back and forth between crying and laughing during their self-written vows and then again when I watched them cut their cake together with a sword. So perfectly in sync, so perfectly in love. They are blessed beyond words to have found one another, and I am blessed to have had them enter my life as well. I love you guys!