J & J //Engagement
Its a crazy thing when you know two people your entire life, you grow up together and are basically like family, they get older & fall in love, get engaged, are now planning their wedding, and you get to photograph the entire process. This literally is the story between Jordan Leigh, Josiah & I.
I grew up with Jordan Leigh & Josiah, as well as their entire families. I seriously can't remember a time without them in my life. All of our families were incredibly close growing up, to the point that we did EVERYTHING together. We saw them multiple times a week, went to church with them, would travel with them, have them over for dinner etc. Well..our little group of friends slowly started to fall in love. My sister and Josiah's brother, John Anthony, started crushing on each other, and at the time, we all thought it was so weird that best friends were falling in love. But years later, they are happily married & now we really ARE family. Then, Josiah started crushing on Jordan Leigh, and now years later, THEY are engaged and will be getting married in May!! My 16 year old feelings of "oh my gosh this is so crazy they are in love!" started kicking in while I was shooting their engagement photos, because it still hasn't hit me yet that they are getting married!!!!
Jordan Leigh is the sweetest human, extremely elegant, and artistically talented, especially at drawing & painting. She paints & sells these miniature portraits of people that are incredibly accurate and look identical to the person she's painting. You can find her work on Instagram @jordanleighstuckyart . She's also about to graduate with a degree in Visual Arts at the same university I went to, creating her senior show, planning a wedding, and getting ready to move, all within a few months. I did the SAME thing a little over a year ago, so I know she's up to her eyeballs in work and is probably slightly going insane, but she's doing an amazing job at it all & I can't WAIT to see her senior show.
Josiah is hard working, crazy smart, and also very artistic. When we were younger, we'd go over to his house and see all these small figurines he had molded out of clay. They were always so intricately detailed & realistic. Josiah even used his gift of creativity to do something for Jordan Leigh that I have YET to see any other fiancé do. He had a crazy idea to not just design, but MAKE Jordan Leigh's engagement ring. Josiah called a local guy who does that work to see if it was possible to teach him how to make her ring. Josiah used a diamond that was formerly Jordan Leigh's great grandmother's, and after months of work, he literally hand crafted her engagement ring (photos of the ring below!) I love couples who have special stories behind certain aspects of their wedding day that makes it so much more personal and unique!
Jordan Leigh & Josiah, you both are like family to me and I am SO thankful for our friendship over the years. I could pee my pants over how excited I am for your wedding AND that y'all are moving to Greenville after your wedding!!! Extra bonus! Love you two and the countdown to May 26th is ON!
When your childhood friend is getting MARRIED!
This couple's wedding is extremely special to me. Why? Well..Ive grown up with Rachel, ever since I can remember. My sister, Rachel, my other friend Rachel, and I were inseparable growing up. I feel like we did everything together. Some of my very first memories of childhood involved these girls. And if you don't believe me, maybe this picture will prove my point ;)
And now Rachel is getting married in just a few weeks!!! Her fiance, Quincy, is the sweetest man, and loves her so well. Their families have actually been lifelong friends, but the two of them never really had a thing for each other. Yet, they got reconnected a little over a year ago, and that suddenly changed! He proposed over the summer and they will be married in 3 weeks!! They love Jesus, each other, and others so beautifully. I am so honored to be a part of the day they commit themselves to each other for LIFE!
We did their engagement photos in downtown Greenville, which is where they both live, work, and go to church now. It is a special place to them, since they will be starting their lives together in this town. My husband came along with me on this shoot, and I am not sure if that was a help or a hindrance, because he and Quincy made jokes and laughed the entire time. ;) It was almost impossible to get a serious photo of them! Either way, it was a FUN day and I am thankful for lifelong friendships!!
