Good morning from Sarasota, FL!

I’m gearing up for Jim & Gretchen’s wedding tomorrow at the beautiful Longboat Key Club, but before I blog their engagement mini session from yesterday, here’s one little outtake for you!

Yes, that’s me… I still have some ups from my old volleyball days!

Happy Friday!

xo

Suz

2011 was an amazing year.  So, so many beautiful weddings and awesome clients who I am happy to now call friends.  Meghan and Derek are the epitome of this.  They are truly two of the most sincere, kind, and gracious people I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and I’m so happy to be able to call them friends.  And what better way to end 2011 wedding season then spending a Saturday with friends?

Love this shot Shannon got of the guys!

So, funny story about this first look.  Derek and his dad are sort of photography buffs.    So, when I arrived with Meghan I got to run over and say hi to Derek and his dad first.  And as I set up for this shot I hear Derek’s dad yelling from the other end “this light is PERFECT!”  What can I say?  When the man’s right, he’s right.  It was perfect.  And that, my friends, is the moment I knew I loved Derek’s dad!!  Haha, thanks for being so awesome, Mr. Falvey!

Love this shot (above) that Shannon grabbed!  My view on the same thing below.  Literally I think we shot these frames the exact same second (we’re just good like that!)!

ummm.. hello vanity fair bridal party!  I love you!

Okay, you know that I love a good family wedding tradition.  And Derek’s family has a great one, (for my college girls out there reading this, this might rival our traditional Boyz II Men sing along).  So, I asked Derek to send me the exact story so that I could share it with you guys…. so here’s the deal, straight from our groom:

“Some years ago my grandfather heard a story about weddings in Ireland having a parade of the congregation from the church to the town below for the reception.  Frankly, this could have been some kind of cover story…. I cannot speak to the validity of this legend but that’s what my family’s sticking to.

My grandfather, who was a Marine, started arranging the march at weddings of family members years ago after hearing this story.  He always started with “When the Saints Go Marching In” and ended with “God Bless America”.  It caught on and there are pictures from a number of weddings where he led this march.  Then, after a while, he figured why keep it in the family and began taking a fold up flag in the trunk of his car to non-family weddings.  I’ve heard there have been marches at weddings where he may have only known a couple of people at the whole event!  “Shy” is not a term generally found in the dictionary for our family.”

So, there you have it… and here are few images Derek sent me to prove it!

In both pictures, Dereck’s grandfather, Jake, is leading the charge with the flag.  Jake passed away two summers ago.  And this was the first family wedding since his passing, and the first wedding where he didn’t lead the march.  So, I don’t need to tell you what a special moment it was for Derek’s grandmother (below), and of course their whole family.  I actually didn’t even know the story as it was all happening, and you could just feel the emotion in the room (I actually almost cried myself… I know, not surprising, you all know I cry at pretty much every wedding!).

M + D,  Congratulations!  It was an honor to capture your wedding day for you.  Thank you so much for having me along!  p.s. Anyway I can get you back in front of the camera when I’m in Ohio for Christmas this year?? Could be epic… just sayin’!

A few outtakes courtesty of my friend and 2nd photographer for the day,  Shannon of Shannon Grant Photography!

(Please pardon my windblown look there on the right, but you know I had to get a shot with my brides – windblown or not!  You’ll all recognize Rose from her Holy Cross Wedding!  Love it when I get to hang out with former SMP brides at weddings! love you both!)

 Happy Tuesday!

xo,

Suz