Abena and Shaka's Wedding (Bermuda)

Ever since capturing their engagement session in London in March of this year, I have been anxiously looking forward to capturing Abena and Shaka's wedding in Bermuda. Abena and Shaka are a great couple as they undoubtedly love each other very much! :-) Their eyes often sparkle when they look at each other :-) Abena was right, Bermuda is an amazingly beautiful country at every single turn! I felt like I was living in a story book the entire time because I was trying to process how much of a paradise it was! :-) I enjoyed capturing the weekend's celebrations from the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding, and the church services the day after the wedding (according to the African tradition). About 100 guests flew in from around the world including Africa, England, America, and the Caribbean to share in the celebrations and we all felt like one big family! It was so fitting that Abena looked like a queen in a gown that had a cinderella carriage motif, cathedral length veil and a horse and carriage ride at her beckon the entire afternoon. I enjoyed the 5 star accommodations they provided for me at the auspicious, Fairmont Southampton Hotel and Resort which was also the location of the wedding. Celebrities such a John Legend, Kenny Rogers, Chris Tucker, Quincy Jones, and may others were also staying there to participate in the Bermuda Music Festival. Abena and Shaka looked royal in their African attire for the church service where the major part of the service was centered on their wedding. The service took place at the Shekinah Worship Centre of Pembroke and pastor Doctor Maria Seaman delivered the sermon powerfully.

Marvin Joseph of www.ifilmworks.com videographed the events. Special thanks to the DJ, Ekow Fisho for providing me with some of the African songs we enjoyed at the wedding and I have used them for the slideshow. Congratulations to the event planner, May Krow on a job very well done! Song bird, Christina Mims entertained us with singing the entire weekend. Check out her album, "Survive." Ira Philip of the Royal Gazette newspaper in Bermuda published a great article about the wedding in the newspaper. Do check out the article by click on this link: http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d9b72b30030015§ionId=80

The slideshow has been added to my www.shellyedwardsdestinations.com website. Click on Slideshows and then click Bermuda. You can also access it by clicking on the slideshow below. Stay tuned for their anniversary pictures in Ghana, West Africa in August 2010 and Abena's sister, Mary's wedding in London next year. Thanks again Abena, Shaka, and everyone at the wedding for the great time that we had and for choosing Shelly Edwards Photography to capture your celebrations!

Jamie and Mike's Wedding (Florida)

It was a pleasure capturing Jamie and Mike's Wedding in Palm Beach, Florida. Jamie looked stunning in her cathedral length veil, mermaid dress, and beautiful pink and white flowers! :-) Mike looked great and was smiling the entire time :-) All the venues were wonderful with her getting ready at the prestigious PGA National Resort and Spa, had the ceremony at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and the reception was held at Abacoa Golf Club. I chose to use 2 songs played at the wedding for the slideshow. They combine with the pictures to be particularly touching to me as it encapsulates the bond between Jamie and her father and then Jamie and Mike. It is indeed a powerful moment when a parent or parent figure entrusts the bride to her new lover and protector. Everyone had fun with props provided at a photo station and then we enjoyed a grand send off with sparklers! Another absolutely priceless part of the celebrations for me was when I had the privilege of enjoying seeing 3 couples that I have had honor of capturing their weddings since last year together dancing and enjoying their love for each other! Thanks Mae and Carly for the referral! Gratefully, Carly and Branch had recently recovered from the swine flu. Jamie and Mike, thanks again for choosing me to capture your passage from singleness to being married and do enjoy! :-)

Below are some of my favorite pictures. To view the slideshow, click the link below or visit it directly at: www.shellyedwards.com/JM

Cindy and Mark's Post Wedding Glamour Session (Manhattan, New York)

I recently enjoyed photographing the post wedding glamour session of Cindy and Mark in Manhattan. They are truly a delightful couple! :-) It is absolutely evident that they truly love each other very much! They were smiling the whole time except when we did the more fashionable poses. We chose to make the most of the New York ambiance by incorporating an artist and violinist that we met while taking pictures. The picture with the artist is in the previous blog post directly below. As usual with major tourist destinations, it was especially a delight watching a crowd gather around and cheer on the couple while they were dancing and we got a million, "Congratulations on your wedding!" from a lot of people. Cindy and Mark surely felt like celebrities that day! :-) I have included some of my favorites below. Thanks Cindy and Mark for choosing me to share in this special moment in your lives. May your love continue to grow deeper with each passing day!