Alex & TJ

Alex and TJ took a leap of faith to permanently reside in a state that they had only vacationed in on a handful of occasions. They moved from to Florida from Chicago to be closer together. No plan. No apartment of their own. They made a decision and went with it. Despite having to live with family, they did not regret their decision.

On the day of their wedding, Alex and TJ were one of the calmest couples I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Both were supported by close knit family and friends who flew in from all over the country to celebrate their marriage. As they got ready at the Marriot in Downtown Tampa, TJ quietly got dressed and ready to go with his groomsmen as Alex, her bridesmaids, and her mother listened to music and sipped on champagne in the bridal suite.

With her mom and twin sister (MOH) by her side, they walked up to the rooftop for first look with her dad. They all clearly had a close bond with each other, as everyone gently wiped tears away from their eyes as Father saw his daughter in her gown for the first time. After the first look, the bride and all her bridesmaids headed to the bar for some drinks as they awaited their party bus to take them to the venue. Let’s not forget that Alex’s twin took her duties as maid of honor very seriously and evacuated TJ from within sight.

Once at the venue, Alex and TJ shared their vows together on separate sides of the ceremony wall and prayed together quietly, savoring the intimacy before the big ceremony. Alex’s family and friends prayed over before walking down the aisle and shortly after the couple was married.

We took a stroll around the premises of Armature Works for couples portraits and onto the reception we went. The night was filled with happy tears, laughs, and dancing. All the while, Alex and TJ stayed true to themselves, making it easy for me to deliver a gallery they’ll cherish for years to come.