I love hearing about my couples’ love stories – Sara and Shawns is definitely one of my favorites! These two met at work – and began bonding at the lunch table. Sara mustered up the courage to ask Shawn for his number and after connecting they eventually fell in love and began their life together. These Holly Hedge Estate wedding photos truly show their love and partnership with each other and I am so honored I was able to capture their special day! It’s always a JOY working with the same family twice – I had photographed Sara’s sister’s wedding many moons ago! Check out some more images below and read about their love story!
We met at work in 2013. I claim that I saw him first, but Shawn will say he spotted me first. Whoever saw who first, we both instantly felt drawn to one another and knew we wanted to know more about the other. Only after two months of getting to know each other at the lunch table, I finally got the courage to ask for his phone number. At that point we were able to connect on a more personal level. We started dating a month later and moved in together 4 months later. We both truly fell head over heels and knew this was something that would last.
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We wanted to have fun and throw the party of a lifetime. All we wanted was for our guests to eat, drink, and dance, and be able to walk away talking about how much fun they had. We are a very light-hearted, carefree couple and wanted that to shine through on our wedding day. In order to give our guests a great time, we needed the music to be perfect… and it was! The dance floor was packed the entire night and that’s when I looked at Shawn and said “this is perfect”!
According to Shawn, my inspiration would be everything Joanna Gaines, Fixer Upper, and Magnolia Homes. If only they had a wedding venue, we’d be the first ones to book! Being in love with her style, we looked for somewhere rustic, maybe with a barn, but also maybe outdoors. We appreciate the farm to table cuisine and wanted our guests to enjoy that experience as well. We landed on HollyHedge Estate not only for its unimaginable beauty, but also because they grow much of their own food and utilize local businesses. They are a venue that practices what we stand for and we couldn’t have chosen a more perfect place to celebrate.
The first look was our favorite memory from our wedding! The long awaited, anticipated moment of Shawn seeing me for the first time in my dress, with my hair and make up done, was one I couldn’t wait for. He already warned me that he would cry, but when he turned around and I saw his face, I just knew how much he loved me. It was a precious moment that neither of us will ever forget. Second to the first look, dancing all night was so much fun. I wish I could relive the entire day over and over again.
We would tell our children one day that we were in absolute bliss. It was a day of pure joy, love, and lots of butterflies that not many moments in life could replicate. It was a long engagement of over 2 years, so when the day finally arrives, you can’t feel anything but head over heels excitement to finally be marrying your soulmate. It was the perfect day, rain and all.
Weaving together moments of intimacy and grandeur to create alluring, romantic, and moving portraits.
Vanessa Joy is a highly sought-after wedding photographer known for her stunning imagery and artistic vision. She is internationally recognized for her exceptional talent and unwavering commitment to her craft. From elegantly composed photographs to a seamless blending of timeless sophistication and modern flair, Vanessa Joy's work has captivated audiences worldwide.
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