the wedding isn't just about the two getting married...

To read about why I started the “Why I love this photo” feature, click here.

To the average person, this could be seen as a mere “formal.” We do formals quickly so we can really concentrate on genuine moments, and what I love about having Jesse and me there for the group formals is that while Jesse’s taking the “mantle photo” (you know, the row of people that your grandparents will put on their mantle), I’m directing the next group or snagging sweet moments between the formal photos, like this. Heather’s grandfather is like a surrogate father to her, and her wedding was a big deal for him. Not just in the “my granddaughter is getting married, and I’m happy” kind of way, but in the “I love this girl more than anyone or anything in the world and I am so moved at the thought of her getting married today” kind of way.

So, this photo may not win awards or make it beyond Heather’s grandparent’s mantle, but I am ok with that. Because I see it, and I see the trust and love they share and how momentous the wedding day was for Heather’s grandfather, to give her away, and welcome Dave (her husband) into their family.

So, I sort of put the horse before the cart and posted their wedding first, but here is the video we made of Nick and Nicole’s engagement shoot. Stay til the end because they talk about how they met and how Nick proposed.

Nick & Nicole’s Hawaiian Engagement Session from ciras photography on Vimeo.

I couldn’t pick just one….

Jesse and I love being wedding photographers for many reasons… and being able to shoot in Hawaii an amazingly awesome couple is way up at the top of our list We also love that we fall in love with all of our couples for different reasons (that’s code for “we love you all the same” haha), and when we first talked to Nick & Nicole, we were enamored with their laid-back style. Jesse and I had a big ol’ traditional wedding which we don’t regret at all, but if I could have several weddings (I have about 10 different ways to remarry Jesse in my head), this would be a top contender. Immediate family and close friends, one big house for everyone, right on the beach, and AMAZING food. (Food is big for me!)

Anyway, enough about me. Let’s talk about Nick and Nicole… and their amazingly obvious love for each other. They are so into each other that it’s palpable… thick in the air… like a happiness smoke that everyone else swims through when around them. It just makes you smile to be around them.And they wanted their wedding to be a simple way to celebrate and simultaneously bring their families together. And it was a perfect execution of their plan (despite the officiant working on Hawaiian time!)

Where: North Shore, O’ahu at the Pipeline House

Food: By the wondrously talented RJ Spade of Bluestar in Austin, TX (best food I’ve ever had… and it was vegetarian!)

Dress, Shoes, jewelry: Betsy Johnson

the beautiful Betsy Johnson dress and shoes

the frill of the dress. LOVE IT

Nicole and her sister are pros at teasing her mom. This is them in action haha

Nick and Nicole got wedding bands that had each other's fingerprints on them. amazing.

right before walking down to the ceremony

the food!!

Nick getting ready

I love this moment! It really captures their silliness

that sunset! Ahh! Why can't we get them like this in New England!

I think this might be my favorite of the whole day. It really shows the perfect lighting as well as the connectedness of N&N!

the mangroves! Beach and jungle all together

perfection

the first dance! in the living room!

hahaha- the second half of the first dance included the robot!

then everyone got in on the dancing

remember pulp fiction....

A few teasers from Sunday’s amazing wedding!

Where? Tewksbury Country Club

Joslyn doesn't think she's a model, but look at that pose!

this moment during the ceremony took my breath away

Evan & Joslyn love to laugh. a lot. mostly at each other!

a perfect day (albeit a little cold)!

Sometimes Hawaiian Weddings aren’t all just beaches and sunsets…