155
as i got to talk with this lovely young lady, i quickly realized that she was pretty awesome and i think we clicked right away. she knew that i was just getting my photography business up and running, and she needed a 2nd photographer for some weddings last year, so we hooked up and it was the beginning of a great relationship.
Arica Ingratta is younger than i am (by about 15 years i think.... man, that makes me sound old), but she is a fabulous artist and wonderful photographer in Windsor (her company is Manifesto Photography) . even though she is younger than i am, i was seriously impressed with her maturity and her love for God and serving Him. i couldn't wait to work with this great lady.
not long after the two of us met, Arica approached me one day and asked what i thought of this guy Josh. you see, i have known Josh for about 8 years now. i met Josh's parents when we started attending Heritage Park Alliance Church, and i think Josh was just finishing up high school or something. Josh's family are some of the dearest people around, and his dad can scale a tree faster than anyone i've ever met (it's quite amazing actually).
Arica seemed to have a little crush on Josh, and mentioned that they had gone out for coffee one night. i told her my opinions about this great guy and his family, and she seemed pretty intent on seeing him again.
because i got to work alongside Arica week after week, wedding after wedding, and we spent all day together shooting these weddings , i was able to hear about her budding romance and watch as the love between this couple blossomed and grew.
it was pretty evident early on, that God had set up this match, because the more Josh & Arica sought after God, then closer and closer they became.
i just loved seeing the sparkle in Arica's eye every time she talked about Josh, how he made her laugh and how he loved her so very deeply. they challenged each other on every level, and it was just so wonderful to watch this all unfold before my very eyes!!!
i am very blessed to be deeply in love with the most awesome man on the planet, and our love for each other grows deeper and deeper as the years go by. every time Arica spoke of her love for Josh, i just knew that it was the same type of love that i feel for Darryl even after all these years, and i couldn't have been happier for the two of them.
everyone deserves this kind of true and deep love with their spouse!!
last weekend, i had the honour of photographing Arica & Josh's wedding, in a log cabin at the top of some mountain in Tennessee (can you say, scary road?). it was quite the media circus, since Arica's good friend Stacey is a wedding photographer as well , and we were joined by the videography services of Iris and Light (from California). there were 4 of us with cameras, trying to NOT get in each other's way, and it made me chuckle a bit!! i think we were all pretty great and didn't get in each other's way too much, and i know that i was pretty thrilled to have so much creative talent around me. the only trouble is, that when you have so many artists trying to document such an amazing wedding, in such a fabulous location with such great people, you MIGHT end up being an hour late for dinner.
just sayin'.
the whole wedding was perfect from start to finish.
Arica & Josh were surrounded by the people they love most in the world, they made sure that their wedding was centered around God, through lots of prayer and worship, and i was deeply moved.
i have never photographed the wedding of a close friend before, and i do have to admit that it was challenging in a few ways.
first, the pressure to take great photos is pretty high, especially when the bride is a photographer herself, and secondly, because you are emotionally involved.
there are so many times that i was just crying, hiding it all behind my big camera, as i watched love unfolding!!! i got so carried away in the moment, that i would forget that i was even working, and i just found myself wrapped up in all the awesomeness of what God was doing. it was almost too much to take!!!
you know what?
i actually find that watching parents crying is the biggest thing that sets me off with my own tears. i can't take it!!
i guess i am imagining what it'll be like when my own kids get married and start their own lives.
oh great, i'm tearing up even now. how embarrassing!!
here are a few photos (ok, a bit more than a few) of Arica & Josh's special day.
i wish them all the happiness in the world, and i want to thank them for asking me to help document their wedding.
Arica, you are truly one of a kind, and the best wedding date around. i have been blessed to have you in my life, and i will always remember your sneaky-sneaky face as you steal cannoli from the dessert table, before dinner. i loved being your shield from the crowd.
Josh, you are truly a man of God, and i know that you will treat Arica with all the love and respect that she deserves.
thank you both for allowing me to be a part of your lives.
Tags:
Trackbacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
arica & josh | a windsor wedding photographer in Tennessee
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.michelebowmanweddings.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/152
Comments
Details, getting ready, portraits...all amazing. I just love all of your shots...especially the last one.
(06.01.10)gorgeous!! really beautiful! congrats to arica and josh!!
(06.02.10)Love the detail shots...the color is esp nice. Great job!
(06.02.10)Absolutely stunning work, Michelle.
(06.06.10)GORGEOUS job Michele. I love the portraits of the two of them... awesome, awesome job.
(06.09.10)Its amazing to see these kind of shots only a talented hands can do simply a masterpiece dude.
(07.16.10)