When you are a wedding photographer in a destination wedding location like Savannah, often your couples don’t live here and you don’t get to actually meet them in person until the wedding day. But with Jessica and Mike, it didn’t matter in the slightest that we had only spoken over the phone–it felt like greeting an old friend the minute I walked into the hotel room where Jessica and her girls were getting ready.

You see, it turns out that it’s a VERY small world after all. Jessica and Mike have not only lived in Savannah and attended SCAD, but Jessica got her job at an agency out in San Francisco through the Career Fair at SCAD–which happens to be an event I’ve helped plan for the last two years. And, even more intriguing than that little connection…Jessica and Mike also both went to Flagler College in St. Augustine, where they knew a number of people I was friends with in high school!! Crazy little world, eh?!

From our first phone consultation through the last dance on their wedding night, I knew I liked Jessica and Mike. I knew they were the kind of couple that made me SO happy to be a wedding photographer. They love deeply, and not only each other, but their friends and family too. They are creative, they don’t take themselves too seriously, and they laugh A LOT…and they are surrounded by people who love all those things too. All in all, that’s the recipe for a perfect wedding day in my book. Jessica and Mike, I wish you ALL the best in life–keep laughing, keep loving, and keep creating awesome things together. <3

I fell head over heels in love with Jessica’s stunning beaded wedding gown. And then a little

Betsy Johnson

bling for the shoes?? Oh heck yes.

Jessica and Mike had the COOLEST idea for an engagement session. Like I said, we didn’t meet until their wedding day since they live on the West Coast, so they had the uber talented 

Cali Bondad 

take their Elvis and Priscilla-themed engagement photos. Then, Jessica used her killer graphic design skills to whip up those gorgeous invitations.

There is nothing I like better than personal touches on a wedding day, and Jessica planned one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. She commissioned individual, custom poems for each of her bridesmaids, written by Silvi at

The Poetry Store

. They came rolled up on tiny sheets of paper tucked into antique medicine bottles, and the sentimental, funny, touching love notes brought out laughter and tears in everyone.

While I was with the girls as they got dolled up, my second-shooter Daniel was hanging out with Mike and his guys.

Oh, First Looks…you make me smile…

The ceremony and reception were both held at

Cha Bella

, and I couldn’t get over the sheer romance of the setting. From flickering candles to bobbing string lights…Cha Bella was the perfect place for Jessica and Mike to begin their love story.

Cha Bella is gorgeous all the time, but add

Kato Floral Design’s

gorgeous table runners overflowing with greenery…well, it’s just perfection.

You know my love affair with succulent bouquets isn’t going anywhere anytime soon…

Remember how I said Jessica and Mike knew friends of mine from high school? Well, one of those people is Andrew Deming, who I hadn’t seen in 11 years (shhh…yes, I graduated high school 11 years ago). I got to catch up with him on all the awesomeness he’s been up to since then, and let me tell you–he is doing unbelievable things with his life. Andrew started 

Yield Design Co.

, an independent design house, with his partner Rachel Gant in 2012, and he’s been creating GORGEOUS bags, jewelry, and goods for the home ever since. And speaking of jewelry, Jessica and Mike’s rings were all the handiwork of Yield….

Thank you so much to all the talented vendors who made Jessica + Mike’s wedding day so lovely…

Invitations: Designed by the bride | Photo by Cali Bondad | Printed by Culture Lite Printing

Hair: Ashleigh Young

Wedding Dress: Theia “Lilia” gown | purchased from Lovely Bride

Bride’s Shoes: Betsy Johnson

Medicine Bottle Poem’s (Bridesmaid Gifts): The Poetry Store

Bow Ties: JackThreads

Florals: Kato Floral Designs

Ceremony + Reception: Cha Bella

Officiant: Rev. Schulte

Wedding Cake: The bride’s mother! 🙂

Videographer: Golden Hour Productions

Photographer: Wendy Norman – Apt. B Photography

Second-shooter: Daniel Eastwood