Ponte Vedra Beach Wedding | Christine + Tim | Central Florida Wedding Photographer

When you move 900 miles away from home for college and wind up staying, you never really think you’ll see the familiar faces of people you grew up with again. But this is Florida. Home of many transplants. As I’ve come to realize over the past 13-14 years, there are MANY Pittsburgh transplants here. Enter Tim, a familiar, friendly face from my middle and high school years.

I honestly had no idea Tim, like me, had made the move to Florida all those years ago. I didn’t know Tim that well, but in a class of about 250 students someone like Tim stood out, was well liked and remembered. He might not realize it, but his kindness meant a lot to someone like me who didn’t feel like much of anyone in school. I was thrilled when he called to say he was hoping we’d capture his and Christine’s wedding day - but was far more excited that he found someone to share his life with. I know he found many of his same qualities in Christine and more.

This past Saturday, a beautiful - albeit hot - early summer day on a beach up near Jacksonville, I found myself surrounded by many familiar Pittsburghese accents - maybe even the occasional “yinz” was overheard. Christine’s mom told me her family connections in Pittsburgh and Tim’s family shared stories with Dustin and I about life in the ‘burgh. It felt like home, just 900 miles south, and on a crushed shell beach under a hot Florida sun and next to the soft, turquoise waves of the Atlantic. To be completely honest, I’ve never been to a wedding where it has been so difficult to remember who is on the bride’s side and who is with the groom. Everyone was happy, excited, and ready to pitch in and celebrate the day together as ONE family. Isn’t that the goal of a wedding? Uniting two people together and wishing them well as one entire family? I like to think it is. The love shared between the bride and groom was reflected so perfectly in the family interactions. What a loving, blessed family and a wonderful day to celebrate the new Mr. and Mrs.

Many milestones and adventures await the two of you, and with so many people cheering you on, you know you’ll never be alone and you’ll always be loved. Getting married - and being married - is quite the adventure. Enjoy the journey, embrace the things you’ll learn along the way.

Photography: Victoria DeMore Photography - Longwood, FL
Venue: Ocean Blue - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Wedding Planner: Sarah Anna Events - Jacksonville, FL
Cake: Simply Delicious Cakes - Jacksonville, FL
Catering: Chef Pepe, Tie the Knot Catering - Yulee, FL
Violinist: Allison Marshall, String Theory Music - Jacksonville, FL
Band: The Band Be Easy - Jacksonville, FL
Florist: Let Destiny Design - Fernandina Beach, FL
Dress: The White Magnolia - Jacksonville, FL
Hair & Makeup:
Officiant: Rev. Dr. Sean Alexander - Jacksonville, FL
Rentals: Lux Party Rentals, Jacksonville, FL