I met Carrie & Shahn in March of this year as they were scrambling to find a photographer for their July wedding. Carrie had just finished a long run and devoured the Cheesecake Factory Chicken Pot Stickers as soon as they arrived, as Shahn kept telling me about their online romance and the beautiful love of his life. As Carrie told me all the details and traditions their day was going to hold, I began to cry... This couple had SO much consideration for their heritage, family (her brother in particular is in Iraq, so they Skyped the entire ceremony and reception!) and the uniqueness of their love for each other... it melted me.
Carrie's brother knew he was getting deployed "soon" and was unsure if he would make it to the wedding... So, when he was invited to go wedding dress shopping with Carrie, not only did he accept... He bought her wedding dress.
The ceremony and reception was held at the Birkdale Golf Club, and closed out with one of the most festive and glorious traditions I have ever seen!
The Polka music was turned on and everyone who wanted a dance with Carrie dropped a dollar into the Maid of Honor's apron. At the end of their turn they received a shot of schnapps or whiskey and a piece of wedding cake (or cupcakes in this instance!). The Father of the Bride then stepped in and had his last dance with his daughter (here's where I started to cry). Then after their dance the Polka picked back up and the "dollar dance" ended. The Mother of the Bride and Maid of Honor then sat the bride down, took off her veil (symbolizing that the Bride is no longer a bride... she's a wife) , put the apron on Carrie... and then... the entire family crowded around the Bride! Shahn had to literally FIGHT his way THROUGH her family to get to his prize... SO symbolic (and the crying continued).
I have never seen a more closely knit family or a family that actually took me in so quickly... I wasn't just a photographer this day... I was family.
Congrats you two...
