J. ANNE

A letter to my new dear friends.

Erica & Joseph.  You guys caught me by surprise.  The first time that we met, I found myself way more nervous than I usually am with a new couple.  I still haven’t figured out why this is the case, but in hindsight, I can see that I possibly knew that there was something about you guys that I really wanted to impress.  For one, you were planning a very intimate backyard wedding, which isn’t usually what I shoot, and you had come to me via word of mouth from a long time client and friend.  So, the bar was set pretty high.  You have since told me that you knew you were going to book me after that meeting, but I remember leaving the meeting and wiping the sweat from the backs of my knees and trying to tame the butterflies in my stomach… thankful to be in my car… and figuring that I blew every chance I had with you.

After we had booked your wedding, you guys moved into a new home.  When you invited me to your housewarming party, I knew… immediately… that we were the same kind of people.  At your party we drank and laughed with your friends and family not really realizing that we were seeing a small version of the love and support that we were going to see months later when you were married.  You opened your home to me and my husband, and I will never forget that.  You have both become very dear friends, even though we haven’t seen each other much since the wedding.  The times that I see your names pop up in my inbox, my text message reel, or my Words with Friends notifications, the butterflies return.

Erica, you crack me up.  Your witty, fragmented emails remind me of everything that I loved while we were planning your wedding.  Please never stop sending them.  In return, I will promise to never stop playing gangster rap anytime that you are in my car.  You like to turn most moments into humor, but you also know when you want to step away from the jokes and let every emotion you feel roll down your cheeks.  I love you for that.

Joseph.  Ease up on me on Word with Friends.  Sometimes the smarter people let the less fortunate win every once in while… just to keep moral, ya know?  No, but really.  I think that I received the kindest and warmest hugs from you throughout your wedding day.  You have a way of making people feel loved from the minute they are in your company.

Thank you both, for loving me so much, and for allowing me to love you.  I adored every second of your wedding day, and I’m going to go ahead and pop my own collar for a minute as I show off what a GORGEOUS event you guys prepared for your friends and family.
Joseph sang his vows to Erica… as a surprise to everyone there… and he nailed it.  Which he was rightfully rewarded by his almost-wife… with a swift high five. Venue:  Reflections Bay, Lake Las Vegas

Hair & Makeup: Your Beauty Call

Wedding Gown: BHLDN