Candi and Bruce – Russellville Wedding Photography

I’m so happy to be able to share these images! Candi is a childhood friend of mine.  I haven’t seen her, prior to her wedding, in quite some time (I refuse to tell you just how long…because we are still 29 in our hearts.) It was such an honor to be asked to photograph her wedding at Wagon Wheel Acres near our hometown of Russellville, Arkanasas, as well as meet her children and meet Bruce (If you know Candi and Bruce, you also know it seems like they have been planning and sharing their wedding plans on Facebook for YEARS!)  I’m very hard on myself during and after each wedding….I always have regrets, that I could have done more, pushed myself harder…whatever the self criticism may be that drives me to improve my craft. But, at Candi and Bruce’s wedding, my regrets were completely different. I hated that I didn’t get to spend enough time visiting with Candi and Bruce.  And, I was so sad that I couldn’t visit longer with the many guests that were also high school classmates and friends. I can’t tell you how much I loved hugging and talking to friends that I haven’t seen in years.  Everyone of them came up to me….and I felt so bad that I had to cut those conversations short so that I could make sure I was serving my couple, who I happen to know personally.  Candi and I both agree that the two of us either need to get back to Arkansas SOON, or plan a girls weekend in Seattle.  Special thanks to Barbara and Randy Morris who built Wagon Wheel Acres on their personal property.  I’ve been photographing weddings for many years, and Barbara and Randy have GOT to be some of the nicest people I have ever met.

 I asked Candi to write something for this blog, regarding planning a wedding in Arkansas while living in Alaska.  Enjoy!

What started with an amazing proposal in Alaska turned into a family and friend’s barn wedding in Arkansas over the course of a 5 hour drive back to Valdez to go on shift for work.

Bruce planned an amazing proposal on my ONE off day for the month.  Took me to dinner and drove up to Skyline drive that overlooks all of Eagle River and the surrounding mountains.  Granted the entire way I was complaining I just wanted to go home, I wanted a bubble bath and PJ’s but he pressed on.  After he forced me to get out of the car to take some “good pictures” (because the ring was in the console) I am shocked he still went through with asking me to marry him.

The following day on the way back to my shift, I called a few family members and let them know.  After a few discussions about possibly a Hawaii wedding, I realized how important it was for me to really share that day with family and friends I hadn’t seen in years.  I had a 5 hour drive to think.

Once I arrived in Valdez and got settled, I called Bruce and asked….soooo what do you think about going back to Arkansas to get married??

He laughed at first thinking I was joking, but then realized I was serious.

After some logistics talk, the only he said is that he would go anywhere I wanted to just get to marry me.

Then started the destination wedding planning.  My little sister suggested Wagon Wheels Acres when we were texting and said I should really check this place out.  They were just getting started but after talking to Barbara, I really came to the conclusion that she was about to be my new BFF.

Over the next year and a half, she calmed me down when I was in freak out mode and talked me through every step of the way.

After meeting her and Randy when we arrived in Arkansas, Bruce and I both realized that they were about to be our family by choice. Everything was amazing and was above all of my expectations… there isn’t ONE single thing I would change.

Getting to see family and friends I hadn’t seen since my Dad’s passing is something that I won’t ever forget.   Besides and amazing wedding, there were some lifelong memories made with all the people involved.

Thank you all for being there!

Candi and Bruce