Our last bride of this wedding season holds a very special place in our heart. Without her, we might not be be where we are today. Katie was a special education teacher at the elementary school where Amy did her student teaching over five years ago. After getting to know each other over a few 15-minute lunch breaks, they became friends; and, for the rest of the school year, Amy looked forward to those 15-minute lunches with Katie, as a time and place to connect with someone she’d grown to love in such a short period of time. Near the end of the semester, despite spending weeks submitting resumes to every school within fifty miles with glowing recommendations paired with a high GPA, Amy still couldn’t get one job interview. It was May and we were getting married in one month.Since Jordan was going to law school, it was up to Amy to land a job to support us. The economy had taken a nose dive that year and the public schools weren’t hiring — they were firing! Except one. Katie knew the principal of a small public charter school that was growing and, one day, during one of those 15-minute lunches, she sat down next to Amy, looked her dead in the eye and said, “I want to get you a job.” And she did. She landed Amy her one and only teaching interview. Ever. Later that week, just ten days before we got married, Amy was hired as a full-time teacher.
That fall, after Amy and Katie had parted ways, Amy started as the fourth grade teacher of a brand new elementary school. During school portraits, she met a man who became our photography mentor and threw Amy into the deep end at her very first wedding. Thanks to Katie sending us to that school, Jordan was also hired as a teacher there that fall, too, after deciding to leave law school. We spent four years at that school working as Mr. and Mrs. Demos by day and building our photography business at night and on the weekends. When we finally turned out the lights in our classrooms for the last time just over a year ago and made the leap to full-time photography, we thought of Katie.
We thought of the lunches she and Amy shared four years before. The casual conversations. The laughs. The friendship. We thought about Katie getting Amy the only interview of her educational career that set the course for the rest of our life. We thought about how that job led to us meeting our photography mentor and Jordan getting hired at that school, too. We thought about about the blessing it was to drive to school together every morning, teach in next-door classrooms, and grow as people, professionals, and as a young married couple. We thought about the fact that we’re living our dream as full-time photographers and photographer educators.
Oh, we thought that day. About Katie. A lot. Whether she’ll admit it or not (and she won’t, because she’s too sweet and humble), we’re where we are in large part thanks to her, because Amy’s first teaching job was the catalyst that kicked off the series of dominoes that got us to today, and will get us to tomorrow and forever — and we could never thank her enough for helping us get this adventure started.
Needless to say, when we got the email telling us she was engaged, we were thrilled!
Last weekend, Katie married Seth, the love of her life and an incredible man, and we felt so honored to be welcomed in so warmly as a part of their family for the day, and help return the favor she did for us five years ago: kicking off the rest of her life.
Katie, we love you. That’s the simplest way to say it. Thank you so much for who you are and what you did for us (and for the amazing personalized gift you gave us on the wedding day, too!). We poured our hearts into these images because we’re so eternally grateful to you, and couldn’t be happier to see you so happy. Here’s a little glimpse into your wedding day!
Katie had little pops of teal and yellow sprinkled throughout her day. We’re always suckers for a hidden “something blue!”
Katie told us that when she was wedding planning, she stumbled across a handmade paper bouquet on Style Me Pretty, and instantly fell in love. She knew it was the PERFECT bouquet for her perfect day, and we couldn’t agree more!
Their first look was so sweet and emotional.
Katie and Seth’s intimate midday ceremony was in the middle of the Prescott National Forest, one of their favorite places in the world to be together.
After their ceremony, we snuck in more portraits in the woods!
Prescott, Arizona was Arizona’s first capital and has one of the most historic streets in the state. We were dying to photograph in front of this teal home built in 1895 (which is OLD for Arizona) because it complimented Katie and Seth’s color palette so well. Fortunately, we were able to meet the homeowner and get permission to use their front lawn! Ask and you shall receive!
We headed to the country club for a few reception details and dancing photos before Katie and Seth insisted that we drop our cameras and join the party!
It was such an honor to get to be at the start of their newest journey, the way Katie was there for us!
the WEDDING TEAM…
Photographers: Amy & Jordan
Bride’s Shoes: Betsey Johnson
Ceremony Location: Groom Creek Schoolhouse | Prescott National Forest
Dessert: DIY
DJ: Horizon DJs
Floral Design: Dragonfly Expression
Getting Ready/First Look Location: Forest Villas
Hair Stylist: Lindsey Shaffer
Makeup Artist: Lindsey Shaffer
Officiant: Richard Pearson
Reception Location: Stone Ridge Golf Course
the GEAR USED for this WEDDING…
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 50 1.2
Canon 70-200 2.8
Canon 100 2.8
Canon 24-70 2.8
Canon Speedlite 600 EX-RT
Entire Gear List
