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Josh and Jen

November 5, 2013

When I was asked to photograph Josh and Jen’s intimate wedding I was so grateful that I didn’t have anything booked on their day because their story was magical…and their wedding was going to be even more fabulous.

You HAVE to read their story to understand the entire picture…if you are a cryer…grab some tissues and sit back and relax as I retell their story as they told me.

 

Their story begins about 3 years ago.  Jen’s Gran moved into an assisted living/nursing home when her Grandpa passed away as Jen couldn’t care for her Gran on her own.  Jen was raised by her grandparents since she was 5 years old.  Several times a week Jen would visit her Gran where she would read to her, play cards and have to have lunch together.

Josh was also raised by his grandparents for most of his childhood.  His Grandma passed away years ago and it was just his ‘Pops’ and him most of the time.  Josh told me they were best friends.  When Josh went away to college his Grandpa had taken a serious fall and hadn’t been the same since and they felt it was better if he enter a assisted living/nursing home.  Josh would go to visit his grandpa aka Pops nearly every day.  They were the only family each other had.

As luck would have it Jen’s Gran and Josh’s Pops were in the same nursing home.

One day Josh was having lunch with his Pops and Jen was having lunch with her Gran and these 4 ended up at the same table.  Jen told me that small talk was exchanged but nothing to over the top or interesting.  Now and then they would run into each other in the hallways or in passing as one was coming while the other was going and they would exchange pleasantries.

About A year and a half ago Jen’s Gran passed away. It was the worst day of Jen’s life she told me.  She didn’t know how she would cope or move on.  She didn’t have many friends and she didn’t really have any close family.  At the funeral Josh showed up with his Pops.  He talked briefly to Jen and gave her his number letting her know that if there was anything he could do for her to give him a call.  He told me “truth be told Kandis, I never thought she would take me up on it”.  But Jen did.  She said one really hard day she felt really lonely and just needed someone to talk to.  Needing someone to connect with somewhat knew Gran she decided to give Josh a call.

Soon Josh and Jen would start to talk more often and their friendship quickly grew into a relationship.  Jen would accompany Josh from time to time to visit his Pops.  On more than one occasion Jen told me that Pops would say to Jen “So when you going to marry my Grandson?”.  It was a question that both Josh and Jen ignored.

In August Josh was visiting his Pops for what would end up being his last time.  They were having a normal conversation and his Pops said to him this: (I am quoting what Josh told me here) “Josh, that beautiful gal Jen she is special.  You better snatch her up before someone better looking does.  I really like her, and I think you love her.  Promise me you won’t wait too long to be happy.  Promise me you will love her for the rest of your life.  She needs you, and you need her.”  Josh told me their conversation went on for several hours about the future he also told his Grandpa that he had already bought her ring and was thinking about proposing on her birthday that would be coming up in a few months.

In the night Josh’s Grandpa passed away in his sleep.

Josh told me that Jen was now all he had, and he was all she had and he couldn’t wait another moment to make it happen.

So they decided to do it…to get married.  Since they didn’t have really any family and all each of them had were a best friend (whom were dating each other….apparently Josh and Jen set them up…..lil’ match makers) They decided to do something really quick and special.

They put their wedding together within 2 weeks.  Everything they had at their wedding meant something special.

So let me share with you all the little bits of details they shared with me the meanings.

The runner for the isle was a piece of lace that was a reminant from the lace from Jen’s Grans fabric collection.

The location was the childhood farm and house that Josh’s Pops grew up in.

Jen’s handkerchief was the one used at Jen’s Grans wedding.

Lavender was used on the table because it was Jen’s Grans favorite scent.

Josh’s Pops loved books and the books used as decoration were his.

The bible used during their ceremony was Josh’s Grandpa’s bible.

While growing up Jen’s grandparents had apple and pear trees and she would pick fruit with her grandparents every harvest.

Jen’s grandma was an avid canner and taught Jen how to do jellies and jams.  The last jar of Grans strawberry jam was served at their wedding.

Jen’s grandma won several blue ribbons for her pies at the Utah State Fair and so they served pie instead of cake, as well as chicken pot pie for the main entree.   The pies were made using Grans recipes.

Josh’s grandpa loved soda pop but would not drink it unless it came from a bottle.  His favorite was Orange Crush.

Around Jen’s bouquet she carried a blue ribbon her gran won at the state fair.

I am sure I am missing a lot more meaning that the details held but those are the ones I can really remember them telling me about on the wedding day.

This wedding was by far the most meaningful and heartfelt and short wedding I have ever had the privilege of photographing.

I WISH Josh and Jen all the happiness in the world.  I know that your Pops and Gran were there watching every moment of your special day.

 

XOXO

Kandis

You are warned…this is an image heavy post

 

  1. Shebli says:

    This is just so beautiful!

  2. Jaynee says:

    Hey dress is the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen! Can you tell me where it’s from?

    • wishphotography says:

      Jaynee, She was telling me how she wanted an ombre dress, but didn’t think she could find one in time. So I told her that I would help her dye it. So she found the dress at a second hand shop and then I helped her ombre it. 🙂 It was a DIY project. 🙂

  3. Jean says:

    An Amazing story of Gods Grace and Love.
    Kandis, you inspire me 🙂

  4. Jaynee says:

    That’s so wonderful!

  5. Sherry Jo Squyres Ollerton says:

    Kandis, this was so inspiring, so beautiful! How beautiful she is, how beautiful her smile is! I loved the setting, it was so them! I say that without even knowing them, but I could FEEL thru your wonderful photography the love they have for one another and thru the story the love for their grandparents. I read the comment about her dress, the DIY project. Just awesome!!

  6. Elaine George says:

    Everyone should have this kind of fairy tale wedding captured through photos!
    You always amaze me and this was inspiring!
    Love, love, love!!!!

  7. Tasha Hawd says:

    Awesome story beautiful pictures. Brought tears to my eyes.

  8. shari says:

    Grandparents are God’s voice of wisdom and you can feel “gran and pops” smile in every picture.
    This is a beautiful display of images and I know they will treasure them always. So blessed I read your article on “I heart faces” and click on your site.
    BeauTiful work!
    Shari Kelly

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