A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure of flying to Arizona to shoot my friends' vow renewal. I told Pam to hold down the fort and I hopped on a plane for some jet setting. I have known Chris and Kelli for over ten years so when they asked me to photograph this special event, I couldn't have been happier to do it for them. You remember Chris and Kelli from my jaunt to the desert in February where we did the most rock star "
re-engagement" photos ever! Kelli is also a fellow photographer, so I knew we were going to be in store for some amazing details. Let me tell you...she didn't disappoint! Her and Chris, along with some of the
wedding party (and myself,) stayed up into the wee hours of the night
preparing and potting flowers for the big event.
The details were intimate and very fitting for their personalities. Let's not forget her wedding dress which was perfect for her!
They had a hand painted sign and antique keys with the table numbers on them. Now, when she told me where the venue was going to be, I panicked. My initial thought was "where the Peter Piper Pizza used to be?" But! I was floored when I saw the transformation from a yard that was once home to skee-ball and overly-cheesed pizza into a beautiful garden outdoor area.
Kelli got her hair and make up done at the amazing
Bellissimo Salon and Spa in Mesa. The girls were awesome and Kelli got V.I.P. treatment, just like she deserved!
As the afternoon approached, the weather was beautiful, everyone was smiling and it was time for two amazing people to renew their vows of love to each other.
Chris' father did an amazing job officiating the ceremony. As everyone stared on, you could feel the bond they had between each other. When it came time for the kiss, Chris grabbed her, dipped her back and everyone erupted in applause.
After the ceremony was over, we headed out with the wedding party to go shoot some pictures! While we were heading out to shoot some formals, Chris and Kelli had props and a makeshift photo booth to entertain the guests. It's safe to say their kids had a blast playing with some fake mustaches and coke-bottle eyeglasses!
From there, we headed over to some local orange groves up the road from the venue and it was time for some picture taking. Kelli and Chris knew how to work a camera and things started to feel less like a wedding photo shoot and more like a shoot for Vogue magazine.
It wasn't just Chris and Kelli working it, either. The whole wedding party brought their A game and slayed it. Of course, there was definitely a lot of laughter going on, too!
The whole day was amazing and I was honored to be included in it! Chris and Kelli: thanks so much for flying me out and I love you guys! I know you'll have many, many years of smiling, laughing and love.
