ZACH & ANNA VOW EXCHANGE| ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA | WALLS OF JERICO PHOTOGRAPHY

WEDDING

Apr 5

Guys, I'm super excited to post this blog, mainly because Anna is one of my dearest friends. We have known each other since we were 13 and currently have the privilege of seeing each other daily because we work together. When she asked us to be her wedding photographer, I was truly honored... and very much excited!!! I'm pretty sure I squealed! (Yes, I tend to do that and I've come to be okay with it)

Zach & Anna decided not to have a traditional wedding. Instead, they had a very intimate and romantic vow exchange, just the two of them. Anna knew she wanted it to be a day she would never forget so the search for a location was on. Anna came across a picture of a stunningly massive tree located in Washington Oaks Garden State Park and told me that was where she was going to get married. (At this point, I have never been there before but now, as you can tell, we love shooting there!)

At sunrise, Anna & Zach had their first look in the historic & beautiful St. Augustine. Zach looked very handsome as he patiently waited for Anna to arrive. As Zach turned around to see his beautiful bride for the first time, his face lit up and a huge smile spread across his face. Anna was undeniably a gorgeous bride!

Together we explored parts of the historic city- Flagler College, the Fort, Matanzas River, a random but chic cobblestone road. We could have easily spent the entire day there but the time came to head to Washington Oaks Garden State Park.

This was it! It was time. Zach, Anna & an ordained minister.

As Anna & Zach stood under that tree, before God, exchanging their sacred promises to each other, guys, I could barely keep it together. Such a personal & paramount moment they shared!!! Time stood still. (There was a moment that I put my camera down to enjoy their vows but my emotions got the best of me. All I remember is seeing Jerico wave his hands in the air at me telling me to focus and get back to work).

You know what I realized as they stood there? I realized it was important to declare your promises to each other clearly & from the heart, not rushed. I definitely recommend all couples recite their vows to each other PRIVATELY. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying not to recite your vows at your ceremony in front of your friends & family. I'm saying to do it again. Even if you've been married for years. Make it a thing. Refresh yourselves of the promises you made to each other. Not when you're in a fight or trying to prove a point. Pick a day, an anniversary would be easy to remember, and take a few moments to go back and forth repeating those promises you made to each other again. Re-live that moment, the moment you made these promises for the very first time. Before you had kids, before the ups & downs of marriage. Re-live that pure moment over and over again. Better yet, add a few new promises to your vows, ones you didn't know would be tough to upkeep (for example, I promise it won't take me longer than _____ mins to get ready. Or I promise to always be on time. Or I promise to never get mad at you while you are driving). Write them down, frame them- Grey's Anatomy style. Make them your own. Look back at your wedding pictures. Remember all the funny things that happened and all the not so funny things that you can finally laugh about. Be together. Reminisce. THE BEST THING ABOUT A WEDDING IS THAT IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A MARRIAGE! Don't lose that joy & happiness you had on your wedding day! Close in a little prayer for your marriage, celebrating & being thankful for the past but more importantly, the future.

Jerico & I are so happy for you both, Zach & Anna! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lovely day! We feel so honored to have been there with you! Take a moment to look through these pictures together. As you scroll through them, I hope they bring back all the feelings that were rushing through your mind that day. The nerves, the excitement, the happiness! We wish you the very best of blessings, happiness, & a lot of traveling ( but no more hiking up random mountains!).