The Long Awaited Day – Haley + Colin’s Love Story Continues…

For those of you who follow our love stories you will remember these adorable faces… For those of you who are new, let me introduce Haley + Colin and a love story that you will never forget. This wedding has been long awaited, through laughter, and tears, with fear, hope and dreams. Originally this happy day was scheduled to be a destination wedding in 2017. All the wedding plans were connecting perfectly until they learned of an unimaginable obstacle. Colin’s father was diagnosed with a very aggressive and late stage cancer. This was a shock to everyone as he was so healthy and active. This type of cancer is not operable and there is no official treatment. So with so much unknown, Haley and Colin decided to move up the wedding to 2016 and have it local. They were working out all of the plans until Chris’ health started rapidly declining and he was unexpectedly hospitalized.

I will never forget the day that Haley called me on a Wednesday afternoon- I had no idea that Chris had been gotten worse and was hospitalized! Haley said “the big party doesn’t matter – We want our parents to be at our wedding and so we are getting married on Friday – can you be there?” You don’t ever say no to something like this – even though I was hopping on a flight to San Fran only hours after – I wasn’t going to miss this for them. I captured their wedding right in the Hospital Chapel. If you haven’t check out those images, please do here: Haley + Colin’s Chapel Wedding
It was one of the best and hardest days of my life. I was so humbled to be able to take those photographs – memories where people know how important the images are as they have perspective of their time together. The tone of that day was bitter sweet. A true celebration of life and how fragile it is. It was an amazing moment to stop, to see, to appreciate, be grateful and have hope. I think that it was everyone’s ability to do exactly this that has brought them were they are today. And I can not tell you how elated I am to say – they got to celebrate ALL TOGETHER. Out of a miracle, Chris’ health started to improve with some help of a new treatment and he was with the entire family to celebrate.Now, weddings are not just a celebration – they are the joining of two hearts and the merging of two families. No one should ever have to go through what this family is experiencing. But you have to stop and see the absolute beauty here. To see the how much love they have for each other– to see how grateful they all are for every moment together. It reminds us that marriage is not just about the dress or the flowers, it’s not about the amazing venue. It is about becoming family and being there for each other for better or worse. And for this love story, it happens to end with and they all lived Happily Ever After.

Haley is an epic Disney fan and really loved playing off the French Beauty & Beast feel for her wedding, which went so well with her gorgeous ball gown!





Some real life glass slippers for our Cinderella!

That Tiffany’s Engagement Ring!

Finger waves for days! She is such a classic Betty!





For her something old, she was given an antique handkerchief that was carried by many of the women in her family on their wedding day…





It dates back over 108 years





Little throw back to the March wedding getting ready shot!





Love how classy Colin is!





A little grooms’ gift…





And HE LOVED IT!





Some rock star VW cuff links! 

And some gifts for the bride – Tiffany! Tiffany is a tradition for this couple – in fact Colin asked Haley to be his bride right at the counter of the Tiffany’s in NYC.





He picked out a beautiful pearl bracelet with input from Grandma Judy as it was fashioned after hers.  





Off to the first look…





We set them up on either side of the wall of the church!





Just love Haley’s face!

Blue and Yellow – to nod the colors of the Swedish Flag!

Love this little moment right before the ceremony where the Dad’s exchange some Fatherly advice. 





Love this snap of Mom and Grandma Judy! 





The man of the hour!

Colin told me after we took these images that his parents had taken similar at their wedding! There is that YTK Kismet again…





Love this group shot in front of the church!





We found this great secret garden… 

How amazing are the fall colors!?!





Love this Red Ivy….





And the red trees…

Loved the homemade cake by Grandma! 

Grandma Rose was brought to tears at the announcement of the happy couple!





Hip Hip Hooray! 

How great is Dad’s Reaction?!





Love this smile from Colin’s Mom!





Haley’s Dad had an absolutely amazing toast and then surprised Haley with her favorite book that she got on her first day of Kindergarten. The kissing Hand….Which he read to her and all of the guests.





Haley lost her mind when her Dad started to read!





And he gives her a kiss on the hand…





The Kissing Hand!





Loved all the great toast of the night!





Haley + Colin had an ice cream truck for their dessert bar and it was so amazing!

We had this little spec of sunlight that came out to say Hi!

Then it was back to dancing!

Love this image of Colin’s Mom and Dad dancing!