Happy Tuesday, friends!
We’re home!! For now! We landed back home in Phoenix late Sunday night from a whirlwind 11-day trip that started when we drove into San Diego for a fun afternoon together en route to Los Angeles for an engagement session on the California coast and Glee’s Heather Morris’s wedding (which is featured in People Magazine this week!) After all that, we started a 5-leg journey from Phoenix to Nantucket that involved every mode of imaginable transportation — a drive from California to Arizona, two flights from Arizona to Pennsylvania, then from Pennsylvania to Boston, then a rental car, a taxi, a ferry boat, and a Jeep – before we got there! From start to finish, that 5-leg stretch included well over 24 full hours of travel, and that included well over 12 cups of coffee for Jordan and more than enough lattes to keep Amy from hitting full zombie status. She wishes she could function as well as Jordan on little-to-no sleep, but alas, she normally winds up looking like a little blonde bobble head by the end of it.
So, what in goodness sakes caused us to agree to more than 24 hours of straight travel right after we shot the biggest wedding of our career?! The answer is simple. The promise of a getaway with friends we cherish. Ones who just get us and breathe so much life into our souls. We were ready to move heaven and earth to make exploring a new, beautiful place and spending quality time with people we love happen. So we rescheduled three shoots, and committed to driving through the night from California to Arizona to catch the first plane. And we’re so glad we did.
Everyone who was on this trip is also running a thriving photography business, so it was practically a miracle that we were all able to align our schedules and get to the same place at the same time! We all loved being able to celebrate our friend Mary’s birthday in a place that is so special to her, and it was extra fun for us because we’ve always wanted to see Nantucket! Ever since we saw Rory visit Logan’s family on Martha’s Vineyard in an episode of Gilmore Girls – one of our favorite shows – it’s been on our bucket list to go. We got a taste of New England life when we visited Justin & Mary this past fall, so we had a feeling we were in for a treat, but it was even more beautiful than we could have expected!
The island looked like it was straight out of a storybook. Every nook and cranny was full of so much character, and we couldn’t help but take pictures everywhere we went. We loved the nautical spirit of the island. If there is one place in the world more than different than our home here in the desert, Nantucket might just be it! We were in complete awe. And loved playing the part of preppy north easterners for the weekend. Of all the trips we’ve ever been on, this was the easiest to pack for, because we just loaded up everything and anything in our closet that was striped, navy and white!
Over the next few days, we did things we’d never done with friends we don’t get to see enough. We sailed with Captain Jim on a boat he built with his dad forty years ago, soaking in the sunset, smelling the salty air, and repeating his captain commands in unison. We drove Jeeps along abandoned beach for miles and miles standing in the back seat and letting the wind rush through our hair and the wind whistle past us. We even tried for a Demos Sandwich with one of the sunbathing seals, but he hissed at us (did you know that seals can hiss?!) so he didn’t get one. We strolled side streets, picnicked with wine and cheese and our toes in the sand, stood in awe of the pinkest trees we’ve ever seen (and desperately want to plant in Arizona) toured lighthouses, and even made small talk with locals. Our favorite was definitely the clerk at Aunt Leah’s fudge shop (her real nephew) who told us, “Our fudge is so fresh it’ll talk back to you!” We bought $10 worth just because we appreciated his sales pitch. Then we told Aunt Leah to give him a raise.
We had slow, late breakfasts together, and long, late dinners. We laughed about things that don’t matter and discussed deeply things that do, like how to make each other stronger and serve others better. That’s the interesting thing about traveling with leaders, to be honest, and it happens every time. It turns from a vacation into a summit, as much about enhancing the lives of the people who aren’t there as much or more than the people who are. We dug deep and even exchanged some tears. We goofed around and laughed ’til it hurt. We left a lot of cares in our inboxes and voicemail boxes. It was the best kind of medicine. Just what the doctor ordered.
We might have gone a little overboard with the picture-taking, so prepare yourself for a lot of photos!! Here’s a little look at our week in Nantucket!
And a new FAVORITE from Katelyn!!
We got our photos taken by our friend, fellow Phoenician, and film photographer, Melissa Jill, which you can see here!
Love seeing new places? Here are links to our other travel adventures!
International: Ireland • England • France • Spain • Italy • Greece & Turkey • Anniversary Photos: Venice • Italy 2.0 • France 2.0 • Vow Renewal: France • Switzerland • Iceland • Prague • Germany & France
Domestic: Nashville • Denver • Phoenix • Vancouver • Seattle • Vegas • Atlanta • Santa Barbara • Florida • Virginia • New England/New York • Sedona • San Diego • Nantucket • Boston • San Diego • Virginia • Arizona • Charleston • Disney Cruise
