Austin + Shantia | Rainy Intimate Wedding Ceremony

Austin + Shantia had the sweetest, intimate wedding celebration a few weeks back. They chose to tie the knot simply on a Monday evening with just their immediate families present. While I adore traditional wedding celebrations and all that they entail, I’m *also* deeply inspired by couples who opt to tie the knot non-traditionally. There can be a great deal of pressure that comes with weddings, and sometimes, the best way to sidestep all of the stress of wedding planning is to strip away the extras and remind yourself that you’re here for one purpose – to promise your best friend the rest of your days! Austin + Shantia were focused on the very heart of what weddings are really about – promising each other a lifetime. They contacted me shortly before their wedding date of June 24th and asked if I’d photograph their vows, do some portraits, and get a few photos with their families. I was happy to oblige!

First look. I love getting to photograph these sweet moments.

Guys. I’d be remiss not to give you the ‘behind-the-scenes’ version of how Austin + Shantia’s wedding ceremony came together. After chatting with A+S about their nuptials literally one week prior to their wedding date, we reached out to Mandy of MB Design Concepts and asked her if she would bring her design expertise to the table. We asked her to pull together the aesthetic for their ceremony…but here’s the crazy part: we asked her to pull it off in FIVE DAYS. And because Mandy is AMAZING, she did it! And made it look easy (which I’m sure it was not). Most of what you see pictured was Mandy using the resources she had at her disposal to create a meaningful setting for Austin and Shantia and their families to gather for this significant moment in their lives. Isn’t that what creativity is all about? Using what you have and doing the best you can with the time you’ve been given? I think so. Mandy, you have my vote all day every day. Thank you for being so generous with your time, resources, and creative expertise. You are AMAZING at what you do.

…and then it started to sprinkle…and of course A+S are chill and continue to look flipping adorable.

By the time the ceremony rolled around we needed every one of those umbrellas, plus a few more.

Okay, guys. It didn’t just rain a little. It POURED. Like really poured. And you know something? You can let all the rain in the world steal your joy, or you can go ahead and get married anyway.

Spoiler alert: THEY GOT MARRIED ANYWAY.

And was the rain how we wished or what we’d have chosen? Not so much. But you know what they have now? Austin + Shantia have a story to tell their kids someday and crazy photos to prove it of how they promised to love each other through thick and thin while the heavens were dumping down rain.

A good story is worth something, if you ask me.

Just married!

Can we all just take a moment to note that Shantia is utterly drenched and still rocking bridal portraits like it’s her job? I don’t even know. I take back everything I ever thought about when and where and how and what you need for bridal portraits.

I’m not sure how to talk about this next part. It is sacred to speak of another’s grief…as if we know. I don’t know. Shantia lost her mother twelve months before her wedding day. She wore this necklace with a photo of her and her mother. After family portraits, they visited her grave.

The truth is, it feels as though the heart and soul of this sweet family got stolen right up to heaven and left them all gaping wide open. I don’t know if it’s okay to say that. I stood next to their pain as they stood around her grave and I could feel little tinges of it, this wound that feels like it might swallow them all whole. There’s only One Who Heals this kind of shattered, and it’s not trite words – healing and restoration – but it does feel that way when you’re going through hell. Shantia pulled flowers from her bouquet to put on her mother’s grave. They mourned on this day for celebrating, and it was beautiful the way they honored Lydia. Joy and grief mingled. And the rain came down. There was no rainbow that I saw that evening. Sometimes it takes the Son awhile to make His way through the clouds of bitter circumstance. But rise, He will. And with His rise, comes sunshine and all our falling tears turn to rainbow promises as His light hits them. HOLD ON, sweet Knox family. He will not leave your tears in shadow forever. Much love to each and every one of you.