When tragedy hits a family, sometimes the core can be shaken. But after the shockwaves settle, that core has the opportunity to get stronger, ten-fold. And that’s exactly what happened since Amy DeYoung and her husband said “I do” 11 years prior, prompting them to host the ultimate vow renewal celebration. Anne Marie Photography captured the day in gorgeous fashion, and all waiting right over here.
From the Bride… When it came time to decide what we wanted the overall feel of the day to be and to choose our vendors, it was really fun. As a photographer in the wedding industry, I feel privileged to see all kinds of talent at the events that I cover and work with truly wonderful people. I had a vision for how I wanted this day to come together, but I only sought out the best in their field to make it happen. That is where it all came alive and we could not have been more thrilled with how it turned out! It will go down as one of the best days of my life!
Our story: We were young when we married in 2002. Both of us knew within the first week of meeting that we had found “the one”. While we eagerly stepped forward into our lives together, the true weight of marriage evaded us. We were excited about what was to come. Eleven years together brought multiple moves across the country, 2 baby boys, starting a business, job changes, travels and a goldmine of laughter.
It wasn’t until 2012 and the loss of Paul’s sister that we realized exactly how fragile and fleeting life truly is. Ellen was a bright light that shined in our lives and her loss effected each of us deeply. The loss rippled over into other areas of our lives and eventually threatened our marriage. We were suddenly in a place where we had to fight within our marriage to survive and keep our family as one. Through all of this, God showed us what true agape love, grace and forgiveness can and will do. Our marriage is stronger than it has ever been and it is because we chose to sail through the storm with one another.
When you have walked through fire together and can honestly say that you would do it all over again to get to where you now are… you know you’re with the right person. This is why we chose to have a ceremony to recommit our lives to one another; celebrate a fresh start; a new beginning. We’ve been through the fire and we’ve seen the beauty that comes after the ashes settle. It’s so much better than before and without a doubt worth celebrating!
Photography: Anne Marie Photography | Videography: Pretty Sweet Weddings | Flowers: The Tuscan Rose | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Cake/cupcakes: Sweet Traditions | Furniture: Revive Vintage Rentals | Gold Chairs: DPC Media | Makeup By Alyssa Garcia: Alyssa Garcia | The Vineyards Restaurant: Oak Valley Vineyard | Video: Pretty Sweet Weddings | Vintage Dishes: Parties By Design, Charlene