emily and dave could have planned their wedding to take place in the parking lot behind a greyhound bus station. it still would have been one of the most beautiful occasions eileen or i could hope to photograph — all because of this extraordinary couple whose lives were being joined together. but as it turned out, the site of their destination wedding on st. simons island was a much more appropriate setting, and certainly more emblematic of the deeply rooted, timeless love they share. it’s hard to imagine a place more charming and, at the same time, as spiritually poignant as epworth by the sea. the grounds of this methodist retreat seem to float on an undercurrent of history, the sound of the surrounding water bringing it audibly to life. this is where methodism’s founders, john and charles wesley, trod on american soil for a time, having arrived on mission from england. having just visited memorials to these men during our travels in london and oxford, england, eileen and i felt slightly awestruck now to be following so closely in the footsteps of their famous journey across the sea.

starting from that context, and then to have the distinct privilege of documenting the personal historic beginnings of this beautiful new family — i must say, it put me in a deeply grateful frame of mind. what a job! to find art within fleeting moments that are so fragile — yet powerful enough to sway all the future moments that will follow — is a deeply rewarding endeavor. mostly we want the images to tell a story that allows those who were present to reflect and inspires future generations with a window onto their roots. in emily and dave’s case, it is a story well worth the telling.

we loved getting to know emily’s and dave’s families during the weekend on st. simons. observing the way they all joked with, worked alongside, and loved each other, it was pretty clear how these two crazy kids turned out so well. the wedding decor was part of that “working together” of family and friends. the results, as you’ll see, were stunning.

i was so pleased how eileen captured this first meeting between father and daughter from a distance. (well played, my dear.) as a new father myself, i can’t see images like this anymore without my eyes watering a little. they serve as a reminder to me that my little jasmine won’t stay a baby forever. (and that i will never allow her to marry.)

the rosary beads emily carried with her bouquet belonged to one of dave’s grandmothers, and represent that strong love and faith. you’ll remember we incorporated the beads during their engagement shoot, although the crucifix was broken at the time. emily did a handy job mending it before the wedding — something old, good as new!

i was told emily chose the ceremony location especially for the low-hanging spanish moss and fountain in the far background. visually, it worked like a charm. good lookin’ out, emily.

this little “monkey” may have been our youngest ring-bearer to date. he also knew how to steal the spotlight occasionally with his cute antics. (i’m afraid our little jasmine, who’s the same age and was on the island that weekend, may have gotten a small crush on him. needless to say, i made absolutely certain she wasn’t around when the bouquet was thrown!)

emily and dave’s ceremony ended with a vibrant sunset, a dramatic exclamation mark to a day words couldn’t describe. although we had taken their couple’s portraits before the ceremony, we all raced excitedly to the wharf for a few more shots when we saw those colors!

these candy canes are just a taste of one of the best ideas in wedding reception history — a gourmet hot chocolate bar. get this: every place setting had a card with favorite recipes for making your own unique brew. as a hot cocoa fanatic, i must say — amazing!

as a military man, dave is often away on the call of duty. can’t be easy for either of these two love birds. so we leave you with these last images — a pair of tight portraits that i feel really draw them together, as they should be. we love you guys! congratulations again.

All images © 2011 Blume Photography. It’s unlawful to copy or reproduce our work in any form without our express written permission. (It just ain’t right!) Thanks for respecting us and our art. If in doubt about federal copyright law, please ask us. We’re happy to answer your questions.