A Bride against all odds.

Turning the mess into a message – A Bride’s story of triumph & hope

So as normal wedding posts go, this one is long overdue.  I’ve started and stopped 100 times because, after spending over a year with this couple, I want to make sure I not only share their amazing images but tell their even greater journey to the alter. 

I met Luke and Kelsey in May of 2017 after returning from a wedding in Italy.  Luke contacted our offices wanting to have a photographer for his surprise proposal. We had just landed after a 10 hour flight and I almost…. didn’t take the booking but something told me to do it.  

Their surprise proposal was so much fun, a secret meeting atop of a lighthouse!  You can see more of those images here.  After meeting these two, I was hooked.  Kelsey and Luke are like your long lost best friends finding you again.

Kelsey & Luke surprise proposal as seen on How He Asked.

Shortly after the proposal, we started chatting about the engagement photos and wedding day.  We planned, we shot the engagement and started the wedding day planning. However, soon we would learn that Kelsey’s planning would be taking a back seat to HAMILTON….. an 8cm neurofibroma, which would require a spinal surgery and a long recovery.  In her own words:

I’ve been recently diagnosed with a tumor on my spine, wrapping around and extending into my right psoas muscle. It’s called a neurofibroma. It is benign. I will never forget taking a walk with Luke after dinner on an evening in September and saying to him, “Something is going to happen. Something is coming. I can feel it.” After two months of doctor’s appointments, CT scan after CT scan, an MRI, an unsuccessful aspiration, we were at a loss. Multiple doctors had told us there was no way they could operate due to their fear of the risks at hand, all the while, my symptoms worsened. Last Sunday morning, November 12th, my right leg had begun to go numb. In ran Orlando Regional Medical Center. Every. Single. Nurse, doctor, PT, told us how glad they were that we came, and how glad they were that we came NOW. After 10 grueling hours in the ER, angel among us PA Pat ran in, grabbed my hand and Luke’s and said:

“I’m in. Are you in? I’m in.”

We wept like never before with relief. We were finally going to conquer this. By Monday morning, I couldn’t wiggle or move my right toes, couldn’t lift my right knee off the bed, and from the thigh up I felt nothing. 7 hours of surgery involving spinal deconstruction, partial tumor removal, spinal fusion, hardware placement, and a whole lot of fuzziness afterwards, my family tells me I victoriously wiggled my toes and thrust my right leg in the air (probably far harder than I should have…) shouting, “LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!!!”, to everyone who passed by post-op. My right leg had been salvaged. Praise God.

This was in November, 2017.  When I heard the news, I immediately expected Kelsey to postpone  the wedding but she said to me, Kelly, why would I… I am going to walk down the isle to the love of my life in 6 months, no if, ands, or buts.

…and surely she did!

As my mom was preparing to walk me down the aisle, she looked at our Wedding Planner and said, “Ya know, normally she is a complete spaz. I’ve never seen her like this. Serious zen mode. You OK, Lou?” I laughed and told her, “I’m more than OK. I am so, SO grateful. I am so, SO ready.” A couple moments later, as we walked down the aisle, Mama tugged on my arm and told me I was running. But how could I walk? How could I do anything but speed walk? I was Luke’s Bride. Walking to him. Not at all what I pictured-maybe not at all what everyone else pictured, either-yet everything I was meant to be. Everything I dreamed. And so, so much more. Thank you Jesus.

Reliving Kelsey’s and Luke’s wedding through their images brings flutters to my heart. I can’t imagine the journey from, not being able to walk – to dancing the night away, but she did it and we couldn’t have be more proud to have been apart of the  journey.  

From Recovery to Reception

… The people nearest to you will make or break every situation you’re thrown. At the end of the day, you are responsible for your own life. However, we were never meant to do life alone. Thank. You. Jesus. Community is truly essential in navigating the waves, rapids and most certainly, riptides you will ride. Who you share your life with is extremely important. It’s imperative to be selective of who you really let speak into your life.

Apertureexpanding.com 

Speaking life and encouragement into our couples is just a little part of what we love to do.  Wedding planning can be super stressful but we love the (deep inhale, exhale) moments we see in our Brides when we can truthfully say, don’t worry no matter what, your photos will only show  you, completely crazy in-love on your wedding day!

When we start the journey with our Brides, whether it is 6 months, 12 month or even more to their wedding date, we realize and truly cherish the fact that we (I) Kelly, get to become a small part of your story.  While our interactions in the grand scheme of life, are actually quite short; the impact is substantial.  Knowing you, our Bride, our couples, their families is everything to us.  Knowing you is what allow us to tell your story…

…and thank you for one of the greatest honors of this life, creating these exact memories you will always keep and forever cherish. 

See Kelsey & Luke’s full sneak peek gallery here:  Key West Wedding – Kelsey & Luke

CONTRIBUTING VENDORS

Venue:  Cheeca Lodge and Spa, Key West 

Wedding Coordinators: Keys Destination Planning

Photography: Wanderlust Imagery by Creative Imaginations Photography

Videography: 5 Star Production Videography: 

Officiant: Summit Church, Garry Abbott

Florals: Marathon Florist

DJ: Vision DJs

Wedding Dress: Chic Nostalgia Bridal

Engagement Ring: Heidi Gibson Designs

A very special thank you to Ashlee and Jason of Ashlee Nicole Photography who shared this amazing journey with us and Associate shot and captured all of the beautiful images you see on this blog post.  We are so incredibly lucky to have such amazing friends and photographers to cover for us while  we were delivering our own miracle baby, Elijah.