From the bride to be:
"Jon and I were actually neighbors. He moved in 2 houses down when he was 17 and I was 14. We grew up on Hernando Beach and there were many nights that he would climb up on my Dads boat that was parked in the driveway under my window and try to talk me into sneaking out.
One cold night in February ended with him and a friend being chased down the road by my dad and brother and them swimming home just for trying to talk to me. I would sneak out of the house and jump on the back of his Harley and ride away in the night or cruise the beach in his Jeep and go watch the sunset.
When I was 16, I got into a car accident trying to sneak around and see him (since my parents forbid us to be together). I hit a tree at 15 MPH and lacerated my spleen. I had to be bay-flighted to a hospital an hour away and was in ICU for 4 days. My parents finally said, "ok, you almost died trying to be with him. You obviously love him." After 2 years of sneaking around we were finally allowed to see each other.
Shortly after I was pregnant with my daughter. I had her when I was 17. We were both still so young and didn't quite have the "family" thing down. At 17, I decided it would be better to raise my daughter on my own and I did so for 8 years. I always knew God had put Jon in my life for a reason, and at first I thought it was my daughter. But no matter what relationship I was in, it never felt right and I always thought of Jon.
Then one day, about 3 years ago, out of curiosity I found him on FB and sent him a message only to find out that he had been looking for us! We have been inseparable ever since.
We chose the 4th of July for our wedding day because we always had the best memories of sitting on top of roofs in Hernando Beach watching the fireworks. When I was 15 he gave me a firework called 'Whistling Dixie' and told me if he asked for it 10 years later I’d better have it….I still have it to this day."
We ended up having A LOT of rain on Jon and Amy's wedding day! They were supposed to have their ceremony outside in front of the barn, but when the rain didn't show any signs of letting up, everything was moved to the upstairs of the bard (and boy was it hot!). As soon as the ceremony started, the sky opened up and was clear from then on out. We were even graced with a rainbow as soon as we started the formal photos (Jon and Amy really earned that rainbow!)
Despite the weather and the change of plans both Amy and Jon were as cool and calm as could be.
Their wedding was most certainly a DIY event. They made the favors, the photo booth, the guest book palate and even cooked all of the food served (Amy is a caterer and personal chef)! Friends and family got in on the action too by helping with all the little touches, and Amy's mom even did the flower arrangements.
It was such a wonderful day filled with lots of love and laughter!
Vendors:
2nd Shooter ~ Michelle C Miller Photography
Getting Ready Location ~ Head & Heel Ranch
Ceremony and Reception Location ~ Sweetfields Farm/Weddings at Sweetfields Farm
Hair and Makeup ~ 7th Heaven Salon of Inverness, FL (Brittany Eddy and Wendy Roberts)
Band ~ THE BOB HOPE BAND
Catering/Cupcakes ~ The Fresh Chef
Flowers ~ Mother of the Bride
Officiant ~ Traveling Notaries of Hernando County
Orlando Wedding Photographer
