Offwego…

I recently returned from a fabulous wedding in Maui, my second for the year actually.  However, this wedding was especially special.  Before I post Chris and Payton’s completely amazing wedding day, I wanted to say a little something about this trip and these people first, while posting some pics from other than the Big Day.  You see, I originally sat down tonight to write that blog, but as I began thinking about how I got to Maui in the first place (theoretically of course, I mean, Alaska Airlines took me there…) I came to realize it was actually quite the journey, and was quickly reminded that this is indeed (as Mr. Disney would like us to believe) a small world after all…And so where to begin?  I suppose it all starts with two of my dear cousins, Erin and Colleen.

Colleen and Erin went to high school with Gretchen (the linchpin, if you will) who I met several years back to photograph her newborn son, Carson (you’ll see him below shooting Chris in the face with a water gun).  Gretchen then introduced me to her cousin Megan who’s wedding I then photographed and who is still the best spray-tanner I know.  Then I met Gretchen’s good friend Annie (mom to Kasen, the wee-babe below being cuddled in the pool by every woman in sight).  It was when I photographed her and Danny’s wedding in 2010 that I first met Annie’s sister, Payton (The Bride)….  Still following?  Good, because we’re just getting started.  Seriously, I should have drawn a diagram…

Right, OK, so…Gretchen then introduced me to the fabulous teaching duo of Paige and Cory, who incidentally both happened to teach classes for my close friend Melissa’s two daughters.  It was while shooting Paige and Cory’s wedding in 2011, that I first I met Cory’s brother, Chris (The Groom).  So… when Payton contacted me last Summer to say she and Chris were getting married in Maui and wanted me to tag along, I could barely contain my excitement. I already knew both of these amazing families and quite honestly was more excited about spending a week hanging out with them than actually being in Hawaii. Now, that might sound a tad loco, but you would too if you knew them.  Truthfully, I would have spent a week in Norman, Oklahoma with these people if they’d asked.

You see I found out long ago, when I first met Gretchen, that there must be some direct cosmic correlation between these families and my own.  I obviously love my cousins, and therefore adored Gretchen the minute I met her.  But then I met Annie and in 15 minutes completely fell in love with her as well.  And it just kept happening. There was Completely Fabulous Megan, her husband Awesome Chris, Adorable Cory the Fun-Sized, Paige the Lovely, and Danny the … well…I suppose Danny’s just Danny.  I almost feel perhaps a line of action figures should be available soon…  Chris and Payton even bought me a chocolate shake from Dick’s when we shot their engagement photos.  The point is it seems that once you connect with one, you can basically assume you’ll connect with them all. This was then reconfirmed after meeting more family and good friends once in Hawaii, as they were all (of course) fabulously awesome as well.

So that’s the story of how I came to be in Maui May 16th this year for a simply fabulous wedding uniting two simply fabulous families.  Their official wedding blog will be up shortly, but for now enjoy a few pics from their Welcome Dinner, hanging by the pool, and a little ocean time…   xoxo, Amy