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Heather & Chris | Wedding at Spirit of the Suwannee

Weddings

The weather was a little threatening…well let’s be real, the weather in Florida is bi-polar at best. That is already a challenge, add a Category 5 hurricane that’s the largest in modern history…well that is enough to make a wedding photographer cringe.
Thankfully we weren’t expecting Hurricane Irma to make her debut until late Sunday but we could already feel the effects from her on Friday afternoon. Not knowing what to expect we packed our bags, with more items then we ever have, and set off for Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park for Heather and Chris’s wedding.

We pulled up to the tree house were Heather was getting ready, as soon as we got out of the car we noticed the wind was picking up quickly. We said a prayer and headed up the steps of the tree house. As I entered it was full of excitement. Heather was taking on questions with such stride and she was just ready to get married and celebrate with her friends and family. As we photographed her getting ready and her bridal details, you could just feel the anticipation the whole day! We kept cool until the park informed us that there was a mandatory evacuation and they were sending everyone home. WHAT?! After a few more calls we found out that the wedding could continue until 9pm that night…then I was breathing again ha! Meanwhile Heather was smiling and staying on track. We went over to Chris’s cabin to grab a few photos of him getting ready before the ceremony. I wasn’t surprised one bit when I saw him cool and collected and ready to tie the knot.

As we walked over to the ceremony site we could tell it was about to rain and then it began sprinkling just enough to be annoying and by the time we arrived at the venue, the sky was 10 times darker. So I immediately started planning out all of our “covered” options that we had available for portraits. One thing I do know is that rain doesn’t hinder our work… if anything, it pushes us to be even more creative! Let’s be real, what bride prefers for it to rain on her wedding day…..so I started praying for the skies to just hold back! …. And guess what?! They did!!!
I saw Heather and her daughter Haiyden driving over to us in the golf cart and just took a deep breath and embraced the wind from the storm instead of the 100-degree weather we usually have to endure during Florida weddings.
Regardless Heather and Chris were going to have amazing photos because they are an amazing couple! They are the type of couple that the more you’re around them, the more you love them!
Enjoy my favorites of the day!
-Chabeli

This moment between the newlyweds melted my heart. It was just a quick tender moment after their nuptials where they embraced each other and took it in right after they were pronounced as husband and wife.