“Oh, man,” Michael said, a little choked up. “This is going to be harder than I thought.” He wiped away a tear with his left hand, as he held our vows in his right, the same ones we’d written and recited seven years earlier. At the tender ages of twenty-one and twenty-two. In the packed foyer of our church. Filled with family from all over the country, friends from all throughout our life and all the optimism in the world. Michael continued reading. We continued holding hands. High near our chests. Near our hearts. As if our subconsciouses were getting our bodies as close to our souls as they could. Just like we’d done 2,555 days before.
Except this time we weren’t standing inside or under a steeple, we were standing outside and under a singular tree, old and tall; and we weren’t surrounded by hundreds of people that we could see, but hundreds rows of lavender, purple flower after purple flower, so many that we couldn’t even begin to count them all; and we weren’t anywhere close to home, but far, far away, in the South of France, in what looked like a fairytale and didn’t feel like a real day.
Jordan held Amy’s hands tight, his thumbs running over her knuckles one at a time, reaffirming them, reassuring her; and, with three squeezes, reminding them of the only three words that mattered or ever did: I love you. She tilted her head and smiled back at him, with quivering lips that said, I love you, too, and eyes that said, I’m so happy and barely holding it together, all at the same time. Then, we exchanged our rings, as much as two college kids could afford back then on summer part-time jobs. They weren’t much, but they meant everything. Still do. And always will.
reminding them of the only three words that mattered or ever did: I love you
Marriage is awesome. We really want people to know that. It’s not the ball-and-chain that’s portrayed in popular culture, and we believe the seven-year-itch is myth. In fact, we’d argue that seven years in, is seven times better.
The timing couldn’t have been better since we were vacationing in France with two of our greatest friends, Katelyn and Michael, who just happen to be world-class photographers — and Michael’s a former youth pastor, too! — we were all photographing other jobs in Europe within days of each other, so it felt like all the stars had lined up. We knew it was going to be a memorable moment, but we didn’t know just how special it was going to be.
Katelyn and Michael, there aren’t enough words in the English language that could be combined in an order that would thank you adequately for the gift of that moment and the way it will keep giving for years — and generations — to come. We love, cherish and adore you both, and are eternally grateful that God blessed us with you a few years ago. Our lives have not and never will be the same.
Lastly, there’s no audio or video recording of our ceremony. It didn’t get Snapped. It wasn’t on Facebook live. Not because we don’t value audio or video. We do. But because since we live so much of our life out loud and online, we wanted something just for us. A little moment that we could keep in our hearts and imprint in our minds and hold onto forever. Something that would just be, well, ours. A time and place to be present without having a time and place to present.
And do you know what’s funny? In that stillness. In that quiet. In that abandoned field halfway around the world under a tall, old tree with deep roots that reminded us of the ones our parents and grandparents planted for us, we felt their love; and as the glowing sun broke through the overcast clouds and cast the tree’s oversized shadow on us, we felt it more… and His warmth, too. Because walking in our parents’ and grandparents’ shadow, riding in their wake, and running in their wind, isn’t a weak thing — it’s the best thing — when those people have walked, do walk, and forever will walk with the Lord. We just feel thankful that they paved the way, because it’s made our path straighter and easier, which is why we’ve made it our mission to impact as many other marriages as we can. To keep carrying the torch for the couples who sacrificed before us.
And during our vow renewal, in the middle of the lavender fields, we were reminded, in such a naturally supernatural way, that He is loudest when we are most still, He is strongest when we are most small, and that a life and marriage rooted in Him has the power to grow into something far better and greater than our human eyes could ever see.
Katelyn shared a ton of her favorite images on her blog, so make sure to click over there to see a whole lot more. We just wanted to share a few of our many favorites!
Katelyn shared a ton of her favorite images on her blog, so make sure to click over there to see a whole lot more! We just wanted to share a few of our many favorites! Thank you Katelyn and Michael for making our dreams come true!! We love you!!
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"I always look forward to your emails! I get excited every time I get an email notification that says 'Amy & Jordan!' Even though we've never formally met, you guys have pretty much become the photography mentor I've never had!"
"I LOVEEE the Monday Minute and I look forward to it every week!"
"The Monday Minute has seriously changed the way I look at my business! In the last year, my business has completely changed and evolved and I know that it's greatly due to my time 'spent' with the two of you!"
"Best year of my life! (Photography-wise!)"
"I always look forward to your emails! I get excited every time I get an email notification that says 'Amy & Jordan!' Even though we've never formally met, you guys have pretty much become the photography mentor I've never had!"
"I LOVEEE the Monday Minute and I look forward to it every week!"
"The Monday Minute has seriously changed the way I look at my business! In the last year, my business has completely changed and evolved and I know that it's greatly due to my time 'spent' with the two of you!"
"Best year of my life! (Photography-wise!)"
Oh my gosh you guys. I cried reading Katelyn’s blog and now I’m crying reading yours! This is beautiful. The thoughts behind it, the process, your love for each other! And how special to have your friends photograph it. God is crazy good!!! This is such a gift from him. You guys rule.
Aw!!! Thank you so much!! God is good!!
Amazing! So glad you guys finally got your traditional portrait!! Congratulations on 7 years and 7++++ more!! We love you guys and are so happy you are in our lives!
Thank you so so much!!! We’re blessed by you guys!!
This is so beautiful! (And definitely on our bucket list for a future anniversary!) I can’t wait to hear all about Amy’s dress! You both look amazing!!!
Aw!! Thank you!! Cant wait to share more!
This is so beautiful! (And definitely on our bucket list for a future anniversary!) I can’t wait to hear all about Amy’s dress! You both look amazing!!! Congratulations!!!
This looks like it turned out so SO special guys!! Amy you looked STUNNING!! Love how your dress turned out!
Aw!!! Thank you so much!! Love you!!!
WOW. Just wow. Your love for each other and for the Lord is so evident, so pure, genuine, and positively RADIANT. It glows from within you both, and not just because of Katelyn’s camera skills (which are undoubtedly amazing!), but through the joy that seems permanently affixed on your faces in all your pictures.
I’ve only been following your blog a few months, but it feels like I know you just from reading your posts (is that weird?), so this definitely tugged on my heartstrings. Thank you for the encouragement and inspiration you’re providing for marriages everywhere! Would love to see photos of your hallway in a future post with your portrait continuing your family’s incredible legacy of love! <3
Aw!!! You’re so sweet!! Thank you so much!!
So, so, so beautiful! Congratulations you two! What a stunning location for a vow renewal and such beautiful new memories you’ve created. Love it!
Thank you so much!! It was an anniversary we will never forget!
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! You should’ve seen my face when I saw your post. You would think that we were friends for years. I got so happy when I saw your images. I cried as I read your post and viewed your images. The love that you show each other is so profound and genuine. The way you both look at each other. The way that Jordan always holds on to Amy tightly or the way that Amy smiles at Jordan. Your love is real and now more then ever because it isn’t until your married and have lived through experiences together that you know what true love is. xox
Aw!! Thank you!! That means so much to us!! <3
OMG…hello teary eyed photographer over here!
Congratulations on 7 wonderful years together and the very best on many more years of health and happiness too.
I can’t wait to see your portrait gracing a beautiful frame the way your parents and grandparents do as a celebration of the love and commitment you have to each other.
I also want to say Thank You.
Thank you for sharing this personal, emotion filled moment and the story of what it is to you with us.
I love you guys!
You are so sweet!!! Thank you!! That means so much to us!
Sitting here at the coffee shop crying because of how beautiful you both are inside and out.
I don’t know you both personally, but I’ve been following you both for a couple of years now and can see how much Jesus shines right through your hearts.
You both are SO real, vulnerable, honest which make incredible leaders to me as person, follower of Jesus and a photographer. Marriage is so beautiful, isn’t easy for sure but so worth it!
Oh yeah, and those photos couldn’t be more magical holy moly You look incredible.
Aw!! Thank you SO much!! That means the world to us 🙂
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!these are just beyond beautiful! i feel like i just was there with you guys!amazing!
Thanks, Maria! We are glad you enjoyed them! 🙂