One of the great things about photographing weddings is the wonderful couples and families that I get to meet. I was initially contacted by Emily’s mom since Emily is finishing school at Auburn. Tese, her mom, and I worked together initially to plan the photography and it was just wonderful working with her. I met with Emily once before our scheduled engagement session and was immediately drawn in by her gentle nature and friendly smile. I knew this was going to be a great wedding event at the Lange Farm in Dade City, Florida.
Emily+Clay met while on a mission trip to Africa. In fact, Emily returned to Africa to do God’s work up until just weeks before the wedding! They told me how they met and a little about themselves during our engagement session in Tampa but it was her grandfather’s introduction and blessing before the ceremony that really told everyone there something about these two.
He described how Clay first met Emily in Africa and how impressed he was that this young lady was there essentially on her own. I’m sure he didn’t miss her beauty either. He was also impressed with her total love for God and in doing God’s good work. Her grandfather went on to tell the guests about a journal that Emily had kept and wrote in since she was a little girl. It seemed that she wrote a lot in that journal about her future wedding and the man that she would one day marry. What really stuck in my mind was the entry that she made that “she wanted to marry a man that was more in love with God than in love with her.” Awesome! Honestly, I have thought about that many times since the wedding. Thank you. Your faith, love of God, and love for each other are an inspiration.
I must thank Stephanie from Stephanie Humphrey Photography for working with me on this day. Many of the gorgeous photos below are hers and I am looking forward to working with her again and again.
Here is their day in a slideshow set to music:
