MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA DESTINATION WEDDING: {COURTNEY + CHAD} | SUNSCAPE SPLASH RESORT

Having the opportunity to document Courtney + Chad's destination wedding in Montego Bay, Jamaica makes my heart burst with joy. To do what-I-love in a place-I-dearly-love was a dream come true. 

I travel to Jamaica every year between January and April and stay in Negril - about 1.5 hours away from Montego Bay. On the morning of Courtney and Chad's wedding, I arranged a ride to Mo-Bay with a friend and we set off at 8 am. As we traveled east along Norman Manly Boulevard, the warm ocean breeze filled the car as reggae beats leaped from the radio. I could not help but smile with excitement. It was a perfect day, and I was thrilled to be a part of such an amazing event in Courtney and Chad's lives together. 

A fairly large group of family and friends had joined Courtney and Chad for a week of fun-in-the-sun and to celebrate their love and marriage. The love surrounding Courtney and Chad on their wedding day was warm like the Caribbean sun. Their intimate wedding ceremony took place in the garden gazebo at the lovely Sunscape Splash Resort in Montego Bay. With the sun shining through the tall palms, and the refreshing breeze blowing in from the ocean, Courtney and Chad committed their lives to each other and promised to love each other always. 

After the ceremony, Courtney and Chad walked hand-in-hand along the beach and later shared their first dance as husband and wife surrounded by loved ones. Together they laughed, cried and shared a toast for a blessed future. Their wedding day - from start-to-finish - was positively perfect. 

Courtney + Chad, Thank you! Thank you for choosing me. Trusting me. Welcoming me. I wish you a lifetime of love + joy + laughter + happiness - everything good under-the-sun. Forever.

WEDDING: STEPHANIE + RYAN / BISHOP'S FALLS

If anyone can handle a heavy downpour of rain on their wedding day, it's Stephanie and Ryan. She brings the sunshine and he grabs the umbrella. 

Like most couples planning the perfect wedding, Stephanie and Ryan had hoped for beautiful outdoor photos in the park and amazing light at sunset. But, heavy rain on their wedding day put a damper on our plans. And, there was no sign of it stopping. It was belting it down. But, it's on the grayest of days that true love shines brighter. Despite the rain, Stephanie and Ryan enjoyed the most amazing day, filled with joy and precious moments spent with friends and family they adore. As the rain fell, they celebrated love and laughed the day away.

A week or so after their wedding, we met again on a beautiful afternoon to capture a few outdoor photos of the newlyweds - minus the rain. It was perfect. 

Stephanie and Ryan, you are the best. It is couples like you that fill my heart with joy and make me realize how blessed I am to be a wedding photographer. Something tells me, your future will be warm like the sun and your love will stand the test of time...no matter what the weather brings. Lots of love. M