Jessica & John – Mentor, OH wedding

Writing this post has been hard for me. Hard because I don’t even know where to start with the amazing-ness (yes, I made a word up – sue me!) of the day I am about to tell you. 🙂

Back in October of 2010, when Jessica first e-mailed me about shooting her wedding, little did I know how much I would fall in love with her and her amazing family. Nor how much fun this wedding would be, or how amazing her friends would be, or, or, or…………….. I could go on but I have a blog to write 🙂

When we met, her infectious smile, laugh and bubbly personality just drew me in. She told me about her fiance John who was about to be deployed to Afghanistan for seven months, about how she would be planning this all without him being there, about how she was already waiting for the day he would return. I felt her pain – my own son Daniel was also about to be deployed to Afghanistan also. That first meeting we had? It lasted about two and a half hours! As we sat there with her lovely mom Sue, we laughed, we cried and just connected.

John arrived safely home in June and this past weekend it was the big day! The wedding party had two Marines, two Navy Officers and one Army soldier included – it was safe to say that we would be, er, safe? on this day 🙂 Together with Paul as my second shooter and Heidi as my assistant we covered this day from start to finish! There are going to be plenty of photos here so, sit back and enjoy!

While I was hanging out with the girls, Paul was heading over to the guys to shoot their preparations!

Now back to the bride Jessica! 🙂 How GORGEOUS does she look?

They were married at St Bede’s the Venerable in Mentor, Ohio.

When they exited the church, they had a military exit complete with swords etc., Here, in action 🙂

Once the formals had been completed, we all headed downtown to the Musuem of Modern Art in Cleveland to get some bridal party shots. Did I mention there were NINE people on each side? Yes. You read that correctly 🙂

It seems that almost every couple in Ohio that was married on Saturday were having their bridal party shots taken at the exact same place we were at! Seriously…….. fighting for position 🙂

LOVE the cans on the back of the limo……

Jessica and John held their reception at the Cleveland Marriott at the Key Center – LOVELY place!

and yes, they DID cut their cake using John’s sword!!!!

Want to know how lucky I am? Half of these bridesmaids (including the bride) will be in a wedding I’m shooting on New Years Eve. Then the same ones will be in another wedding I’m shooting next year! I’m very happy to know that I’ll be seeing them all again!

While I was finishing up shooting everyone upstairs, Paul took Jessica and John outside to cool off and shoot a couple of photographs 🙂

I usually end a post with photobooth pictures – and there were many – however, as I have already made this post way longer than usual, I shall instead just upload them to Facebook and their gallery.

Today, a mere three days after the wedding, Jessica and John are driving to California – the Mojave Desert actually – to relocate and start their new lives together. I am so very happy for them, their family and friends and wish them every happiness they both deserve. They are truly a beautiful couple.

The rest of their photographs are in the process of being edited and will be up in the gallery as soon as they are done – I hope you can hold on 🙂