favorite wedding

Jennifer + Damian : Benachi House Wedding in New Orleans, LA – Part ONE

September 3, 2016 by Jensey 1 Comment

This girl.

Jennifer is unlike any friend I have ever had. The best player on our middle school soccer team, salutatorian of our high school graduating class of over 600 students. Today, she’s a gorgeous, a real-life scientist who is actually changing the world, and the kindest soul I’ve ever met. She’s also incredibly humble, so her friends and family have to brag on her behalf.

When Jennifer and I graduated, she was off to Tulane and shortly after, I moved to Florida to start my Disney adventure. And for the past 14 years, we’ve kept in touch through letters.

Not emails, not phone calls, but letters. This girl knows my family dramas, juicy details behind some of our craziest weddings, and most importantly, which words I will never, ever learn how to spell. ;)

Friends, meet one of my favorite people in the world, Jennifer, whom I lovingly nicknamed “Jensim.”

Jennifer married the luckiest man in the world who knows he’s the luckiest and that just makes me love him more. This is the only man who can keep up with her wit, challenge her intellect, and make her happier than I’ve ever, ever seen. Their wedding comes off the heels of some of the most difficult times in their lives, and it was so wonderful to see them so happy, surrounded by people who appreciate how special these two are.

Their wedding took place at this magical New Orleans location, the Benachi House. We were looking forward to shooting at this venue since Jennifer first sent us the link, and it was a wedding photographer’s dream. I could have shot there for hooouuurs and still not hit every photo spot I wanted! :)

I. MEAN. <3

And then there was Barkley. <3

I love Huck. I feel like I need to preface my ode to Barkley with that. But Nate and I have never, ever left a dog so smitten after first meeting. I love Barkley because he’s calm, happy, fluffy, incredibly warm and friendly… He’s basically Jennifer. <3 I cannot think of a more perfect dog for my sweet friend!!

I normally say which photos are favorites, but there are waaaaay too many with this wedding, but this one’s way up there!! :)

And this one, too! <3

Jennifer handmade masks for some of us, and this was mine. Snow and a little Huck!!! <3

We love you, Barkley!!!! <3

Of every person I met on Jennifer and Damian’s wedding day, Kanako was the one I was most excited to meet. She was Jennifer’s roommate and best friend at Tulane, and for the past 14 years of Jensim writing about Kanako’s life, her wedding, her adorable daughter, opening her dream store in New Orleans (Kawaii Nola– GO THERE!)… Well, I’d never met someone for the first time and felt like I knew her so well!! It’s a beautiful thing meeting someone who means so much to someone who means so much to you and seeing how much they love that someone you love! Does that make sense?! :) Kanako was the perfect maid of honor!

I think this was the moment Barkley genuinely thought he was marrying Jennifer! :)

THESE. TWO. <3

THESE. THREE. <3 I can’t type heart eye emojis, but just know there’d be a paragraph of them here! :)

Sisters! :)

Jensim, you were stunning. <3

All smiles signing the marriage license! :)

Why are there not more fancy dog guests at weddings?!?!?!?!?

It’s been so long since I’ve had to do this, but you have to come back tomorrow for part two!!! There were just too many good ones for one post. <3

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Amanda + Jeff : Orlando Florida Wedding

August 22, 2016 by Jensey 2 Comments

I can think of no better time to share this happy December wedding than today, in the dead of August (FLORIDA in August at that!), when I could use the reminder that we’re this close to more beautiful weather! :)

We love Amanda and Jeff and knew from their engagement session (remember the Santa Mickey hats on the beach?) that we were going to love their wedding day. Jeff is a Fantasyland cast member, which happens to be *my* old workplace that I miss dearly, and it’s impossible to not smile when you’re around Amanda!

They were married at the Yacht Club Gazebo and had their reception in Ariel’s. I love that their best friend married them (though I’m a little partial to that!), and their DJ, Elliot, quickly became my favorite Disney DJ next to Charles Miles! :)

One of my favorites- So much happy in one photo! <3

I love when couples “play” a little bit instead of using traditional songs to walk down the aisle. Jeff and his parents came into “Come and Get Your Love” and had everyone dancing and smiling along! :)

I’m 99% sure Amanda walked into the theme song from The Princess Diaries, which is all kinds of perfect. <3

CHRISTMAS IS COMING YOU GUUUUUYS. <3

I’ll never forget their sweet first dance to “Define Dancing” from Wall-E. I think of them every time it comes on my playlist. <3

SO. MUCH. HAPPY.

The BEST wedding to end the year with. I MEAN!!! :)

Amanda and Jeff, we love y’all too much! Vow renewal soon please!! :)

Deborah + Aleš : Lake Mary Events Center Wedding in Orlando, Florida

August 9, 2016 by Jensey 2 Comments

When Deborah and Aleš met playing tennis at a league last year, it didn’t take long for them to realize they’d both found someone special. After all, their first date lasted 8 hours! <3

Aleš is from the Czech Republic and last summer, he brought Deborah home to meet the family. One year later, and his family was flying here for their Florida wedding. Not all of Aleš’s family spoke English, and even though some of the day might have gotten lost in translation, it was a beautiful thing to see how happy everyone was for these two. Deborah doesn’t speak much Czech and her new mother-in-law doesn’t know English, but there is already so much love between these two from their mutual love of Aleš.

Their wedding at the Lake Mary Events Center was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t get enough of the happy pink and blue palette and THAT. CHUPPAH. <3

We loved this vendor team so much, and huge props go to the incomparable Lana of Fairbanks Florist based out of Winter Park. Lana was a ball of sunshine and I’m so glad we finally got to work together! :) This was our second wedding with Susan Southerland of Just Marry! and the day went so smoothly with her at the helm. And while I could go on and on about how much Deborah and her family adores Susan and loved working with her and she did a great job and yadda yadda yadda, but I will more importantly point out that Susan has a vast knowledge on Pokemon Go and helped me level up while we ate our vendor meals! ;)

Of course, Jeffrey Stoner was there to film, and wedding days with Jeffrey never, ever feel like work. Jeffrey, thank you so much for sending Deborah our way- We had such a wonderful time and can’t wait to do it again. (Seriously, Root brides- Go check out his page and book him for your wedding!!)

And now, on with the photos! <3

I love seeing our guest books at weddings. :)

I MEAN. <3 Quoted from FairbanksFlorist on Instagram : “I put a lot of thought into the design. I created 18 individual floral arrangements which were all individually attached to the chuppah and after the ceremony we took the individual arrangements and put them on either side of the nine tall reception centerpieces to complete the table centerpiece design!”

My favorite part of the ceremony- Their rabbi let them whisper sweet things privately to each other while he spoke to their guests.

MAZEL TOV! <3

One of my faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaavorites!

Just the most perfect. <3

Jay Edwards of Liquid Entertainment was both the DJ and in charge of the uplighting. Between his, Susan’s, and Lana’s talents, the room looked so magical! :)