One of my favorite parts of any wedding day, especially during one with no first look, is to catch a glimpse of the groom just as he’s about to see his bride for the first time. A lot of times the groom will look pretty nervous standing and watching as the bride’s father escorts her toward him, but Michael was exactly the opposite. Instead, he had a wide, relaxed grin on his face. If he was nervous, he wasn’t showing it, as he smiled and looked like the happiest man in the world as Dr. Price walked Jordan towards him. And in that moment I thought, “Now this, this is exactly how every groom should look.”
That small moment of the day pretty well sums up the overall vibe of Jordan and Michael’s winter wedding at the Historic Rice Mill in downtown Charleston. To put a word to the day would have to be joyful because there was nothing about their day that wasn’t filled with the utmost absolute joy. The ring bearer running down the aisle to Michael, Jordan and Michael singing their first song together as they danced, Dr. Price cracking everyone up telling stories of both his daughters getting married within six weeks of each other during the reception, Jordan’s brother running in moments before the ceremony started from Fort Bragg because there was no way he’d miss his baby sister being married, the ENTIRE party, and I mean every single guest at the reception dancing to the band, and I could go on. It was pure Joy. (The only thing I won’t mention is just one little mishap during the getting ready time with the ladies at their Airbnb. It too was joyful in the way that the girls and I could not stop laughing, but what we were laughing at will just be our little secret. Don’t worry ladies. Jordan will get the pictures, and they are hilarious.)
This wedding will also always be special to me because it was the first military wedding I got to experience. Seeing so many brave service men and women gathered in one place and dressed to the nines in their dress whites and blues was absolutely incredible. The ceremony ended with a Saber team creating an arch of swords for the bride and groom to walk through welcoming Jordan into the military family. It was so awesome, and a moment I will never forget. For all those who attended Jordan and Michael’s wedding who have served our country, I say thank you to you. You are brave, you are strong, you are honorable, and we need more men and women like you.
Jordan and Michael, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me capture this day. It was truly incredible and it was an honor for me to do so for you. Watching the two of you sing to each other at the beginning of the reception, and then ending it with Micael’s heartfelt speech to the guests as you looked on Jordan, there was no doubt in my mind the two of you are meant to be together. And I’m just thankful I was there to see it. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, here’s to you!
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