Saturday the twelfth of October.

Nicole and Kaleb, destined to join hands for life, said their vows at Camp Jordan on the water, in the mist, as the leaves fell from the trees surrounding those who love them. Nicole has waited her whole life it seems for this moment. I met Nicole and Kaleb about a year and a half ago, as Nicole’s face lit up about her dreams of this big day marrying her best friend. She also made me feel so incredibly proud of my work as she swooned over previous work I had done, and she told me she would do anything it took to make sure I was able to photograph her wedding. I was honored by her admiration and couldn’t wait to photograph her and Kaleb. I met up with them again to do their engagement photos and had so much fun taking photos of the two of them in the windy autumn sunset. We laughed a ton, which is always my favorite part about work, if I can make people laugh, then I’ve accomplished my job of documenting people looking genuinely happy. When Nicole received her images back she was so happy and shared rave reviews of my work. I made her and Kaleb see just how beautiful their love is, and the real, raw connection they share.

Throughout the last year, Nicole and I have kept in contact about updates, plans, timelines, lists, and everything it takes to put a huge event together. She even decided to add extra hours and another photographer as well, which I am so thankful that she did!

As the day started, I arrived and got to work on photographing details of the dress, shoes, rings, veil, all the while stopping and capturing moments of the ladies getting ready. Andy spent his morning with the guys and documented them as they got their haircuts, and did whatever it is that guys do the morning of a wedding. Haha After Nicole was dressed and ready she made her way down to a natural chapel in the woods to share a moment of prayer with her grandfather and soon to be husband without him actually seeing her. As you may guess, something like this poses challenges. Nicole made it halfway down the path and heard Kaleb was not yet there, so she escaped quickly into an empty cabin with incredible soft light. Her fiance walked by without seeing her as he was blindfolded, but she totally saw him and she lost it. Her eyes started to well up with tears as she looked back at me and tried to distract herself from crying too soon in the day. She made her way to the chapel in the woods and stood against him and held his hand as her grandfather prayed with them. Nicole couldn’t hold them back any longer, and the tears slid down her cheeks. It was becoming very real for her, and she had no words to describe but her tears spoke for themselves.

Nicole and Kaleb then parted ways to prepare for the ceremony.

Now I must mention, Kaleb’s mom, Robin. She was not able to be present on her son’s wedding day due to a very recent aggressive diagnosis that devastated the whole family. But everyone is so thankful because of technology, she was able to watch in a live video at the hospital. Andy and I captured the moments she was part of and made sure to include them as she was still very much present at the wedding and she got to see her son marry his wife that day.

After the ceremony, we took formal photos in the rain and mist on the water. I was so thankful to have a wonderful guest hold an umbrella over me the entire time. I can’t say thank you enough for the kindness that goes into a gesture like that for someone. After we finished portraits, we joined cocktail hour and did formal dances. The food was served by friends and family of the bride and groom, and it was so delicious. The rest of the night we partied away and danced our hearts out on the dance floor. The day went by way too fast, but every moment was so amazing!

Venue: Camp Jordan, Ellsworth, Maine

Cake: Berta MacDonald – mother of the bride

Second Shooter: Andy Dumas of Cross Street Photography

Make-up: Whitney Beal Beauty

Hair: Katie Beaulieu

Dress: Henry’s Bridal