Three years ago today, Cayce + Timmy got married in Negril, Jamaica and we got to be there; SPF 200 in hand.

Their destination togetherness took place in Couples Swept Away and reception at the Berg Event Space in Kansas City, Missouri about a month later. We are so hoping to go back sometime and spend another week in the sand. (But keep reminding ourselves that the Virgin Islands with Erica + Nathan are just a few months away!) That was the first time we’d ever had Jerk Chicken (enjoyed while winding through jungle, in the back of a taxi, fresh off the plane!) and have been addicted to Jerk ever since.

Those also happened to be the days of The Joel’s Dreads. (visual proof at the end!) They reached a max length of two feet, took over four years to grow, and were so much work. But now that he shaves his head, quite worth the hours of hair primping to have the experience of doing something he’d always wanted to.

Admittingly, when our Marketing gal came up with the idea of doing posts for past couples on their anniversary, I had an instant nightmare image in my head. Like some kid in college taking their date home and Mom busts out the Jr. High Yearbook. (Including braces and larger than life glasses in their full glory.) We haven’t looked back at our images recently, but were totally pleasantly surprised when we went foraging their wedding! *whew!*

Sappy Alert!!: (& reward for those of you who made it to the end. )

Since then, our gear has evolved, we’ve leveled-up in editing at least four times, moved half-way across the country, given-up real chicken for soy, and dread combs have been traded-in for razors. But this marriage is so satisfying for us to revisit on a dreary April day. In a trend-driven industry, you sometimes fear that your work might eventually be seen as the “people in color and everyone else in black and white.” *cringe*

The colors in this year, the napkins, the flowers, the earrings, shoes, and manicures will all go away and trends will always change. Going through these images, I see two people surrounded by the ones they love-as they were found. (Including “sugared-up drool kid” and “dancing man.”) It’s such a satisfying feeling knowing that three years later, our work still brings tears to our eyes; lets us know it wasn’t just tears of post-wedding exhaustion at the time.

And to quench your curiosity, I present The Joel in his dreaded/beardness.