I think love is underestimated. Yes, underestimated. Let me explain why I chose to open the blog post for Derek & Kristina’s blog post with this thought. Love isn’t easy. It takes hard work, sometimes years of work to bring it to fruition. Life throws us a curveball (or 10) and we find ourselves taking the road less traveled to get to our final destination. All the while, knowing in our heart of hearts that this road will be longer and harder, but it will be completely and totally worth it.
Kristina & Derek had an incredible Inn at St. John’s wedding earlier this year. It had been long in the making and I know that it unfolded perfectly with her vision of timeless and classic details, family & friends. I’ve had the honor to shoot other weddings in this family, each one unique with it’s very own story to tell. Theirs was so beautiful, and the thread that keeps them all together is how much they honor and love where they’ve been and where they’re going. It’s a beautiful story. Here’s a peek at Derek & Kristina’s wedding day.
Did you do a first look?
We did not! We wanted to share the special moment of seeing each other for the first time in front of our family and friends.
What did it feel like the first time you saw eachother on your wedding day?
Seeing each other on our wedding day for the first Time was simply, “all the feels!” When you have spent your entire life waiting for that one moment and it exceeds your expectations, it is priceless!
What was your most memorable moment that day?
The most memorable moment was definitely our ceremony. Hearing the words, “You are now husband and wife,” was one of the greatest feelings in the world!
What was the biggest challenge in planning your wedding?
Dealing with the vendors! Oh and the seating chart!
What was your best source for finding vendors that you wanted to work with?
Word of mouth! It was a lot easier to go based off of our trust for someone else’s opinion than reviews on a website!
Any advice to newly engaged couples?
Just remember, what is most important is the two of you at the end of the day. If you keep that in mind throughout the planning process, you will be in a good place when the big day is over.
Did you Honeymoon?
If so, where? We sure did! It was a dream vacation! We went to Hawaii- spent 6 nights in Oahu and 9 nights in Maui! We checked off every single item on our Hawaiin bucket list!
What is your next big adventure as a married couple?
We have two big adventures coming up! We are expecting our first child together, a baby boy, May 7th 2020! Shortly after our prince joins our life we will be looking for our forever house to grow our family in!
This family has experienced the deepest of heartbreak yet somehow managed to find so much beauty within. I am just so honored to have been there to capture so many moments for them. In 2010, I met Nina who came to me for her senior pictures. Then came their beautiful sister & angel, Francesa for her wedding to Matthew in 2013. Their father, Tony married Serafina later that summer, and I was so happy tone there for that celebration too. But tragedy struck this family when their beautiful Francesa was taken from them in October of 2014. Francesca was one of those people who’s light lit up an entire room. She made you feel loved by simply flashing her beautiful smile. Her energy was contagious. And just like that … she was gone.
Kristina & Nina have carried on in the only way they know how, with a deep sense of knowing she is close and for love for their angel sister. Kristina’s wedding day was full of moments and emotions that left everyone feeling the loss of having her there that day, and we spoke at length leading up to it about how we could gracefully recreate some of the same images of Fran, her niece & her sisters. I know that this family cherishes every single one.
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