From the moment I met with Kim and Connor last year at Vintage Coffee Company, I could not wait to shoot their wedding. They exude warmth, and humor, and an overall sense of kindness that makes you feel at home with the two of them. I knew this feeling would carry over to their wedding day, and man oh man, was I right. Set at the gorgeous and elegant William Aiken House in Downtown Charleston, Kim and Connor were blessed with what was one of the first days to truly feel like fall after months of heat and humidity in Charleston. The slight breeze and sunny skies made it the perfect day to be outside in the Lowcountry, and for the two of them, the perfect day to get married.
Kim and Connor’s day was filled with some of the sweetest first looks I have ever had the pleasure of photographing. It began when Kim revealed herself in her dress for the first time to her bridesmaids, and they all teared up with delight and embraced upon seeing her. It continued with her father, who dissolved into tears upon seeing her for the first time in her dress. And the best of all, was the first moment Kim and Connor saw each other. The two had chosen to meet at White Point Gardens, right next to the Battery in downtown Charleston, and when we arrived to get them set up, Connor was nervous to say the least. But if he was overcome with emotion before seeing Kim, it was nothing compared to the moment he first laid eyes on her. Tears welled up in eyes and the two hugged and kissed and whispered to each other, as if they were the only two in the world. It truly was so sweet to witness.
I have said it before, but perhaps one of the highlights of the night for me was when Kim and Connor had their first dance to “History in the Making” by Darius Rucker. The song is near and dear to my heart, as it’s in Tyler and I’s wedding video, so it wasn’t long before I was crying, but that comes as no shock to anyone. Fellow emotional Type 2 Enneagrams, where you at? And not to be outdone by the couples first dance, Kim’s mom gathered her three daughters later on in the night on the dance floor where the four of them swayed along to the song “Love of My Life” by Carly Simon. It was one of the most touching scenes I have ever seen at a wedding.
Kim and Connor, I am confident that the two of you are in this for the long haul, and that you have many many years of family and love between the two of you. I am honored that you were a #kdyecouple, and still am pinching myself that I got to photograph a day as beautiful as this one was, but more importantly, MOMENTS that were as beautiful as these were. Because in the end, life is about the moments. The ones you wanna cling to, hang on, the ones you won’t forget. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist it haha!!!) In all seriousness though, I wish you two nothing but all the best life has to offer. This isn’t the end of our friendship, but quite oppositely, this is just the beginning. Because I will be following along from afar on all your journeys as Mr. and Mrs. Bourke. Cheers to you two!
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