This blog post is so special…mostly because it’s my two favorite humans on the planet!!! They celebrated their 27th (!!!) anniversary a little over a week ago, but we were in the height of the move to Charleston and waist-deep in boxes. For the last 3 years, I have been photographing their anniversary portraits…and I didn’t want to skip this year just because we were so busy! So, even though we were 9 days late…we made it happen!!!

I won’t get too sappy with the intro…because I love the pictures so much that I just want you to see them!! But, I never take for granted how amazing it is to witness these two and their marriage. My parents met when they were still in high school, and then my dad left for bootcamp to be in the Coast Guard. They had only known each other a few short months before he left, but he just knew she was the one. He wrote her a letter from bootcamp asking her to wait for him…and she did (even after standing him up on their first date, haha!) She skipped her high school graduation to visit him in San Fransisco where he proposed. Then, they got married at 18 and 19 in a tiny church…and they hit the McDonald’s drive-thru on the way home!

Even as a wedding photographer who loves photographing beautiful, elaborate celebrations…their marriage constantly reminds me that the wedding isn’t what matters. They barely even have photos from their quick elopement in Tennessee, but they’ve been happily married 27 years (including 20 years of military life, 3 children and more seasons of change and transition and trial than I can count!) I’m so proud of them. And, watching them as they make their dream of living back in Charleston, SC come true these last few weeks has been one of the most joyful and rewarding seasons. I’m so grateful.

These photos represent celebrating 27 years of marriage, but they also represent overcoming. And hard work. And perseverance. And the first sweet few weeks of living in the town we’ve always dreamed – thanks to them. I love you both more than words! Thank you for everything you’ve always done, and will continue to do, for our family.

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