Tom and Nicole had, hands down, the most emotional ceremony I have been to. My eyes were filled with tears behind my camera, and for about a half hour afterward I felt like I wanted to have a big cry – and this is saying a lot because I never cry during ceremonies. These two are such an inspiration and their love is so sweet and pure and fun and caring and so strong, I can tell that so much from the short time I have known them and from seeing them interact.
They haven’t had an easy go of it for the past I think 7 months. Tom was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he had surgery soon after, and since then has been on multiple rounds of chemo. He’s so upfront about it and doesn’t hide from it which I so appreciated, because I didn’t know how to approach it when I first met with them. At that first meeting, Tom shared his whole story, and Nicole sat next to him watching him closely, worrying a little, smiling and laughing a little, and had so many emotions in her eyes. I can’t even imagine all they have had to go through and still are going through and the toil it must take some days, but yet they are so beyond amazing in dealing with it. We had so much fun at their engagement session and they were laughing so much, kissing and hugging and giggling and I fell so in love with their sweetness and cuteness together! And then their wedding – there is SO MUCH I could say about it. I will try to keep it to just a few things.
Back to their ceremony first. They each wrote their own vows, and in their vows they each talked about first meeting and falling in love, about their relationship (some definite funny moments in there!), about the cancer and the last few months, they each talked about how the future is unknown, there were tears I think by every single person in the room, and there were also such sweet and funny moments, and even jokes about the tumor. So so emotional. Then afterward, the whole photo session was so much fun, Tom and Nicole are both such good, good people who I like so much, and they were sweet and cute together, they laughed so much, and they had the occasional very deep looks. The day was mostly just about celebrating their love though, and they are so cute! Their reception at the Brass Lantern in Steinbeck was perfect, and what an amazing venue!! There were some seriously funny speeches, and a lot of poignant moments, and overall it showed me even more how wonderful both Tom and Nicole are on their own, and how well loved and well respected they are. The night was filled with joy and yet Tom’s cancer was also talked about and not hidden from. After all they have been through and all that they are dealing with, the perfect example to illustrate the two of them and their wedding day in my mind is what Nicole said at the beginning of her speech at the reception, “We’re just so HAPPY!”
Tom and Nicole, your wedding day was amazing and gorgeous, and it was such an honor to share it with you and be able to document your love and this special time for you, and an honor to meet you both. I wish everything good for you, and a long future, and new treatments, and lots of love over the years.
To all Tom & Nicole’s family and friends, if you would like to be notified when all their photos are available for viewing, please CLICK HERE.
by Rebecca Whitney
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