Renae and Josh gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. They invited me down to the Caribbean to photograph their October wedding in the Bahamas. Doing an international destination wedding was a dream of mine, as I’m sure it is for most photographers, but I didn’t think that dream would come true during my fourth year of business. I felt so incredibly blessed that Renae and Josh not only found me, but trusted me enough to fly me over 1,200 miles to photograph their big day. What an honor! Brian and I flew to the Bahamas on a Thursday, enjoyed the island for a couple days, took part in Renae and Josh’s wedding festivities, and then flew home on Sunday. It was a quick trip, but we got a lot accomplished in the few days we were gone. We flew on six different airplanes, ate lots of island food, went snorkeling and diving for conch shells, stayed in a beautiful condo with a stunning view, relaxed at the pool bar and on the white sandy beaches, and thoroughly enjoyed the company of both Renae and Josh and their families. They counted us as part of their group and really made us feel welcome. We definitely walked away from this experience with new friends. 🙂 So here it is, y’all. My first international destination wedding…thanks to Renae and Josh! It’s a Bahamian beauty!!
The wedding festivities began with a morning snorkeling adventure! How many people get to say they went snorkeling on their wedding day!?! Not many!!!
Our captains took us to some very open waters for the snorkeling adventure. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere!
The happy couple doing some pre-wedding snorkeling!
After snorkeling, our captains took us to an uninhabited island so we could look for shells and do some conch diving…
We had the island to ourselves!!
Last picture before becoming husband and wife! And a conch shell. 🙂
Now it’s time for the wedding! Bahama-beach-wedding details are up first!
Daddy’s last daughter to get married!
STUNNING Renae!!!
Then it was time for the first look! I was outside for less than 10 minutes taking these pictures and the sweat was already starting to form. It was a hot wedding day in the Bahamas, that’s for sure!
Beach ceremony!!!
After the ceremony, I hit the beach and resort grounds with Renae and Josh for some bride-groom portraits…
Not only did Renae and Josh not mind shooting in the hot sun, they also didn’t mind sitting in the sand! Thank you, guys!
We also took some family pictures on the beach. Here are the people that so willingly and openly invited us to be part of their group for the weekend. Thanks a million for being so fun, you guys!
Then Renae and Josh suggested MORE pictures! So thankful for these guys!!!
And back to the beach for sunset…
Renae was hesitant about going into the ocean with her dress on, but she eventually decided it would be worth it for pictures…and I couldn’t have been happier!
Dinner was held at the pool bar alongside the beach…
Oh what a wedding…what an experience. Renae and Josh, you had an absolutely beautiful wedding and I can’t thank you enough for asking me (and Brian!) to be a part of it. Thank you for trusting me, for braving the heat, for laying in the wet sand…for everything! I hope your destination wedding was everything you wanted and I hope you’ll enjoy these pictures forever. 🙂
Scenes and thoughts from deep creek
Well hey now! I thought for sure it had been more than seven months since I blogged last! Wish I could do it more…and plan to as soon as the new JFP website comes out.
I’m not sure I’m starting anything consistent here, just sharing some random thoughts and scenes from Deep Creek on this random Wednesday…
- Dani
Jessica is amazing and she made us feel so comfortable! Having her capture our wedding was like having my best friend with me for every moment! Jessica's photos are fun, whimsical, and sophisticated!
We are not a stoic couple and did not want posed (or trying-too-hard) photos! Jessica was able to capture our personalities and the elegance of the day! I can't stop looking at our photos!
- Jessica and brandon
The best decision I could have made for my wedding was hiring Jessica Fike as a photographer! I was in a wedding prior that she was a photographer for and seeing how organized and easy and strategic she was to work with is what convinced me! She makes you feel so comfortable and helps teach you how to pose and smile and look so natural! She keeps you on schedule throughout your day and captures so much emotion in her photos. She is worth every penny plus more!
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These are fantastic. I especially the bridal lounge portrait. Just beautifully perfect! Anytime you need a second shooter on a romantic beach setting, I’m available!!!!!!! Great job Jessica.
Outstanding pictures. You captured the excitement of the day.
I am a friend of Josh’s sister, Emily, and her partner Michael. Tears are in my eyes watching these two get married!!! Amazing pictures–great job! Congrats, Josh!!!