These two high school sweethearts are officially MARRIED! One of my favorite things about being a wedding photographer is having the opportunity to get to know my brides & grooms. We first met at a bridal show and then again a few months later for their engagement session in Ormond Beach.

I’ve only known Jamie and Rusty for a year but it feels like I’ve known them forever and in that time I’ve had a front-row seat to see the patience, love, friendship, and devotion between them – words confirmed by friends and family during their toasts to the newlyweds (and the sweetest two analogies about Legos from maid of honor Jelisa ❤️):

1. If you step on one of them, they hurt you.
2. They stick together.

Jamie and Rusty themed their wedding Rustic Garden and every detail they chose beautifully complimented their theme. Bridle Oaks Barn in Deland, Florida was the perfect backdrop venue. Some personal touches they weaved into their wedding day are:

• Grandmother’s broach attached to the bouquet
• Including Jamie and Rusty’s cats at the wedding with photos at cocktail hour
• Grandmother made their wedding cake (which looks incredible!) and added their three cats on the back (so cute!)
• They spoke their vows in private during the first look only
• They had an unplugged ceremony (which means no taking photos or video with personal devices) but paused together at the beginning of the ceremony for family and friends to take a quick photo of Jamie and Rusty together before putting phones away
• They wrote letters about what they loved about each other to be sealed away with a bottle of wine to be opened and shared together on their first wedding anniversary. Sealing these special letters away was a part of their ceremony. (I love this idea!)
• Just before they walked down the aisle for the first time as husband and wife, guests blew tons of bubbles so they would be floating around for the photo of their first kiss (wait til you see this!).
• Something that was really important to Jamie was recreating a photo that her parents (who have both passed away) had from their wedding day. It was an incredible honor to photograph this moment and I couldn’t hold back my own tears from behind the camera. Both photos are below, can you pick them out?
• They had a lot of activities for guests to enjoy besides dancing: temporary tattoos, cornhole, a s’mores station and firepit, and other games. The temporary tattoos were a big hit!

Jamie and Rusty, your love and friendship are beautiful to witness. Looking forward to seeing how your love continues to grow together. Congratulations!