As I finally got around to reading Scarlett’s email I just sat in front of my computer and cried. Ya see the last few weeks have been insane. So, I knew it was best for me to mark the unread when I saw it included a written attachment spanning three pages. I had to wait to a later time so that I could give it my full attention. When I finally did, it just about knocked me off my seat. Never in my life did I imagine I would receive a bride’s story including a testimonial of this magnitude. You guys… this is EXACTLY why we do wedding photography. Not just to capture photos but to provide an experience that makes our brides and grooms feel like Scarlett and George described below.

As much as I adore this email and I am so very grateful for their beautifully written story, I am not sure it fits anywhere other than right where I have it. So, I hope you enjoy it. I decided to post this as a blog because it is a bride’s journaling of sorts and I think it can help other brides planning their own wedding. It includes what Scarlett loved most about her wedding day decisions, what working with us really looks like first hand, and how much photography itself meant to her, and why. I am absolutely honored that she had such sweet words to say about me, but most importantly I love the importance of their story.

Today is Scarlett’s birthday and I am happy to honor her and our friendship! Happy Birthday, Scarlett!

 

Written By Scarlett Long: An #MWPBRIDE

 

So as I sit down to write the most important review I’ve ever written, my resounding concern is there hasn’t been a word invented yet to describe our dear friend, Jes. Words like thoughtful, exceedingly talented, creative, endearing, passionate, sensitive, meticulously organized, charming, compassionate, brilliant and gifted all seem to fall just a bit short. Maybe detailing how she completely changed the most important day of our lives will help.

 

the beginning of it all…

George and I met on eHarmony eight and a half years ago. You can read all about the first time we met on our wedding blog – here!
Little did we know then, Christmas night, 2017 {when George proposed in front of my family] was the beginning of 12 months of insanity! Fortunately, I have some dear friends who were instantly invested in helping me find the perfect wedding gown almost the second I stepped off the plane back in Chicago.

Within weeks I found the most magical thing on a hanger I’ve ever seen. Although we had always intended to have the ceremony in Arizona (so my parents could attend) it was important to me that my dress was from “home”.  It didn’t take long for us to also settle on a venue and date!

Not long after George proposed, he was offered and accepted a new position so we had to relocate to Arizona! We loaded a POD and our cars and started heading West on the 28th of May. George and I told my parents in person days later we would not be heading back to Chicago…..ever!

My brother, who also happens to be the publisher for  Arizona Weddings Magazine, and his wife were kind enough to let George and I (and our rescue pit bull, Summer) move into their guest room as we started house hunting. Happily, we found an amazing place to start our desert lives just 20 minutes from them and 20 minutes from my parents. A week later, we moved into our new desert home. For anyone counting, it’s now 5 months before the wedding and the last “thing” we did for it was 4 months previous. Yikes!

love

Getting settled in the new place, and our jobs was a bit overwhelming. George had a significant commute and I had transitioned into a new position with the company I had worked for in Chicago. In addition to that, as the wedding approached, my Mom’s health started failing. We managed to get our invitations out on schedule and had just started addressing food, rentals, etc. when Mom was sent to the ER. The first of several visits over the coming months. My brother and his wife, newlyweds themselves, really stepped up at this point to continue to keep George and me I on track as our wedding date of November 17th was now coming at us like a freight train!

the day my life changed forever…

Too dramatic? Not one bit.

Mark, my brother, had recently received a style shoot for publication with Arizona Weddings. This is business as usual for a publisher, but what was NOT, was his impression of Jes both from emails and phone conversations. When her shoot came across his desk, it was my good luck we had not found a photographer yet. From the second I started planning, I knew how badly I wanted a photographer for our special day. Weeks prior to the wedding, Mom’s hospital visits increased in frequency. Which means that so did the importance of capturing her at my wedding.

I will forever be grateful to my brother for immediately suggesting Jes. He sent me the styled shoot and offered to make an introduction “if I liked it.” I opened the link while I was on the phone with Mark and clearly started making weird “oohs and ahs” as he just started laughing. Mark is my best friend (and my maid of honor incidentally) and after all these years, he knows me better than I know myself. In one of the sincerest tones I’ve ever heard him use, he told me, “there is something about this woman, Jes. You will love her….instantly. Ya, can tell by the link I sent you how talented she is but beyond that, you will just love her”.

 

we finally met…

My first phone conversation with Jes blew me away. There was an odd familiarity I felt with her despite having never met her before. Her questions were so thoughtful and she was so unbelievably kind and genuinely excited to learn more about George and me. There was a polish to her where I knew instantly I was dealing with an industry leader, but I couldn’t shake how down to earth she was. I truly felt I was finding this long lost friend I never knew existed. I was in tears when I hung up with Jes. That second I knew that I found the perfect woman to document the biggest day of our lives.

We had our first video call several days later. George was to call in from his office, and unfortunately, I joined via laptop from Mom’s hospital room. Jes’ compassion was palpable. I had discussed Mom’s health issues and the challenges we had faced getting “good” pictures of her as Parkinson’s continues to ravage her tiny body. She was supportive and positive and was unwavering in her belief that Mom would be at our wedding and walk me down the aisle with my Dad as we had planned.

Love

George fell in love with Jes that day. As our wedding day neared, and Mom continued to be in and out of the hospital, Jes kept us on course. Questionnaires, little texts, quick emails….all of which assured us we were lucky to be under Jes’ wing.

Just before our wedding, Jes made the trek down to Chandler for a venue walkthrough. After exchanging bone-crushing hugs, it was nothing short of magical to watch her. She walked the property and watch her wheels spin as she took notes, asked questions I never thought of to the property manager, made suggestions…….it was an absolute privilege to watch this artist planning our day out in that amazing mind of hers.

jh

As luck would have it, Mom made a return trip to the hospital. As George and his family started packing up for the short trip to our venue on Friday morning, Mark and I helped Mom eat her breakfast. Shortly after Mark and I left the hospital fairly certain Mom and Dad would not be joining us for our rehearsal dinner, Jes checked in to review the timeline for the next day.

When I told her we had just left the hospital, without missing a beat, she assured me Mom would make it to the wedding. I could tell by the certainty in her voice, she really believed it. Of course, Jes being Jes she had a backup plan. If by some chance she wasn’t able to attend, we’d get back in my dress the next day and head to the hospital for pictures with my mom. She really is nothing short of amazing.

our wedding day…

Jes arrived earlier than her meticulous timeline stated the day of the wedding.

She breezed into the bridal suite all smiles and sweetness like something out of a big budget musical from the ’50s.

From the moment she entered, I was able to relax and breath. She buzzed around the suite like a little hummingbird. Jes was full smiles and encouragement, and before I knew it, she floated back in to organize The First Look.

I was still on the fence about doing a “First Look.”

Jes assured me that with the parameters we had placed on ourselves the First Look would be the best option.

Note to brides and grooms lucky enough to have Jes handle your photography? Always, ALWAYS listen to Jes.

Some of the moments she captured during that incredibly private time are some of my favorites from the day. It was honestly an honor to have Jes included. She is such a positive presence. It was like having an angel witness the first few seconds of us seeing each other. An angel with a camera.

love

From the moment her shutter first clicked she was all business. With a smile as big as could be, she wrangled family, friends, and our beloved dog! By the way, our dog, Summer developed a massive attention span deficit that morning. Family and friends were added and removed with such precision from photos. We were able to capture every requested combination and more within an extremely tight window of time.

If I didn’t see the remarkable photos, I would have had no idea she was there. The moments of tears, gut-busting laughter and me giving Mom my bouquet to hold. (Yes, again, LISTEN TO JES! ALWAYS)!!

not just a photographer…

Every guest was photographed…..every detail…..moments I wouldn’t remember without seeing them captured forever. She was adored by everyone in attendance. In fact, more than once I answered who our “wedding planner” was and where we found her. From the moment we spoke on the phone I knew I found someone very special and gifted. To this day, I think Jes was put in our path as a gift. It’s so rare to find a person that is so naturally selfless and has such a beautiful heart.

I can’t recommend a more talented photographer as I can’t look through our gallery without crying. This woman brings so much more with her than her brilliant eye and creativity. Jes is such a beautiful person. She will touch your heart in a way you can never imagine and elevate “your day” by simply being there. Prepare to fall head over heels with this woman! George and I sure did!

We love you Jes and can’t thank you enough! We’re thrilled to call you our family!

All our love,
Scarlett Long

PS. I woke to the most beautiful picture of my Mom the morning after my wedding on my phone. Who
does that?!?!