Kaitlin & Joe [Running Deer Golf Club Vineland, NJ Wedding Photographer]

I woke up the morning on Kaitlin and Joe’s wedding in such a good mood. I had been looking forward to this wedding ever since they booked me because there were two things I absolutely knew going into the day. I knew it was going to be a more relaxed wedding day, because they both are just incredibly relaxed people, and I knew it was going to be super emotional. Besides the fact that they have been waiting almost 7 years for this day to come, it is what they already have endured together as a couple that makes their wedding day that much more meaningful. They’ve already gone through thick and thin, sickness and health together and came out stronger in the end. What a wonderful excuse to celebrate a wedding!

In 2008 right after getting engaged, Joe was involved in a horrific accident that left him not only with several shattered body parts but memory loss and post traumatic stress disorder. He needed to completely rebuild himself, both his body and mind. It took a long time for Joe to get back to the person Kaitlin knew and temporarily ended their engagement but eventually, after a lot of dates together… his mind remembered it all and the love he had for Kaitlin came back, maybe stronger than it had ever been. Joe than proposed again to Kaitlin and they haven’t looked back since. We made sure to grab photos of them with the crab strings Joe tied around their wrists the night they got engaged. He simply did it as joke at dinner and yet they BOTH still have them! So sweet. It took them a long time to get here and this was FINALLY the day they were going to be husband and wife!! When I saw both of them that morning, they were nothing short of excited. It was finally here!! And would you believe me if I told you everything went right for these two!? Not a hitch throughout the entire day and the absolute most perfect weather a Bride could ask for! Kait & Joe were incredibly chill the entire day of their wedding… until we had their first look 😉

Now this First Look is different than the typical first look you are used to. They decided to wait until their ceremony to actually see each other but still wanted to somehow be together before that so I made sure to give them the “Around the corner” first look where they could hold hands, exchange cards, cry together, laugh together and just relax together before the ceremony came. It was SO worth it! Just wait until you see those photos… grab a tissue now! Once the ceremony came, their reactions to see each other were great! Joe cried at the sight of his knock-out gorgeous bride and Kait… she just took a deep breath and smiled so big when she turned the corner and saw Joe standing there. After that moment, it was nothing but big smiles, giggles and kisses shared between the both of them. Their portraits together are to DIE FOR!! Its crazy because we shot ALL their portraits within cocktail hour (including bridal party and family!!) and so this left me with only 20 minutes with them and you would NEVER think it! I’m also seriously in LOVE with all the colorful and handmade details they had surrounding them all day long. From the luscious, vibrant bouquets to their adorable little cake (And cake topper!) to the favors and centerpieces that were handmade by Kaitlin & Joe themselves! Oh and Kait’s something blue? Their dog, Ella’s name tag! SO cute 🙂 They sprinkled a lot of their love all over this wedding and I can’t wait to share it with you! Also a special thanks to my second shooter, Monica Mendoza, for capturing gorgeous candids and the shots of Joe and his guys! 🙂

Kait & Joe – I love you both so much!! You two deserve nothing but pure love and happiness and it was such a pleasure to spend your beautiful wedding day with you both!! Enjoy my favorite images from their wedding day 🙂

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