Woohoo, a destination wedding! We've been destination photographers for out-of-town couples traveling to east Tennessee before, but we've never really traveled further than Atlanta or North Carolina for a wedding. We've just never marketed ourselves as destination wedding photographers (seeing as we're in a landlocked state in the middle of the country). But after this one, we might change that around a bit. :)
So since we don't try to sell ourselves as international destination wedding photographers, Steve and Sandi found us through an unlikely source. Danielle and I are addicted to a photo community app called
Instagram. And by addicted, I mean, it's our new Facebook. We've both uploaded thousands of iPhone images over the last year. Well, Steve stumbled across our photos on Instagram and asked us if we would go on a cruise with them and photograph their ceremony on St. Thomas. Since we were already planning another cruise in September, it was a no brainer.
We got along great with Steve and Sandi, and their friends and family, on the cruise. They're a fun bunch to be around. The wedding was simple and beautiful. Steve planned ahead and brought some special umbrellas since we were cruising in hurricane season and his Boy Scout-like preparedness paid off since it rained the morning of the ceremony. But these two weren't going to let a little precipitation ruin their day!!
Here are some of my favorites from the wedding…
Meet Steve and Sandi. We started out doing a few photos on the boat while we waited to disembark.
Yep, bonus points to Steve for planning ahead.
We had to go to the courthouse in St. Thomas to get the paperwork. Sandi and Steve weren't the only ones getting married that day.
I'm not sure if they were actually married at this point or sworn in as deputies. 
When we got to the beach where the ceremony was to take place, there was a ton of this algae/sea grass stuff washed on shore from an overnight storm. Steve's stepfather went to work scooping and slinging so the couple could have a clear spot for the service. The man deserves a medal for going above and beyond. Bravo!
The monogrammed umbrellas. Nice touch!
The rain slowed down to a trickle… thumbs up!
What an absofrickinlutely lovely place to get married!! 
A few from the ceremony.
Flower petals work. I personally would've gone with handfuls of sand, but hey, it ain't my wedding.
Superstars!
:)
And now for the cuddly kissytime!
These two love to laugh.
"Hellooooo nurse!"
I love a bride that's not a little bit afraid to get the dress wet.
Stud.
Aren't they cute?
Um...
"In the unlikely event of a water landing, your wedding dress will inflate and double as a personal flotation device." Steve ended up tearing a hole in the dress with his teeth to get it to take on water. I'm telling you, our couple's will do anything to get the shot! (Their idea, by the way. We don't condone chewing on dresses to make them less buoyant unless you really want some killer photos like this in the middle of the Caribbean.) 
But, boy, was it worth it!
I love this whole series. :)
The algae stuff was pretty thick on this end of the beach, but it looked pretty cool.
Some ring details on a palm trunk.
After the ceremony, we all rode over to another beach at a resort and hung out the rest of the afternoon until time to head back to the ship. We ate good food, drank great drinks, swam, and watched the local wildlife like iguanas scamper around the sea grape trees. It was by far, the best after wedding experience I've ever had. :)
And of course, we still made them take more pictures. :)
Steve channeling his inner cannibal.
What a cool location for a cool couple.
That night at dinner back on the ship, they busted out the Cristal for a little celebratory toast action.
And then our waiter made them kiss while we all song them a song. :)
After dinner, hijinks ensued with the plethora of mini photo studios the ship sets up. I got in trouble for shooting over the crews' shoulders, but you know what, people do it to me all the time. It was payback. And this was one of the "safer" shots I could show, by the way. ;)Sandi and Steve, thank you so much for this amazing wedding. It was great meeting and cruising with you and your family!! Make sure you call us if you ever decide to do it again!
And hey world, Hope Photography is officially open to the idea of traveling to the Caribbean again and again and again and again for weddings! So spread the word and convince your friends to move their wedding to the beach!! :)
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