Meet Jessica and Carl.

Jessica and Carl are the kind of couple that great stories are written about.  High school sweethearts that have grown to be a gorgeous couple madly in love.  Here is their story.

As with a lot of high school sweethearts, when graduation came their paths took them in different directions.  Jessica went to Southern Miss and had a wonderful college experience, graduating with a degree in biology.  She was a star student and a proud Tri Delta who found a love of animals, especially sea turtles, during her time there.  Carl went to Baton Rouge to continue his studies and then later decided to serve his country as a United States Marine.  Although their lives had taken different paths they still kept in touch and their friendship stayed strong.  In October 2008 Carl decided to join the Marine Corps.  He went to California for boot camp and he and Jessica wrote back and forth to each other during his time there.  In one of the letters he asked Jessica to come out to Cali to see him graduate from boot camp and she agreed.  Together forever, happily ever after, right?  Well, kind of. 🙂

Carl was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan a few months after boot camp.  They sent him to North Carolina to his home base to train and prepare and Jessica had to stay behind to finish her studies.  To their relief he didn’t deploy right away but they knew he would still go eventually.  They lived in separate states which is so very tough as anyone that has ever had a long distance relationship would know.  She flew there and he drove here as often as they could afford and finally in February 2010 Carl asked Jessica to be his wife.  🙂  They went ring shopping the very next day and she got a gorgeous (if I must say so myself!) diamond.  Then the day finally came.  On his birthday in January, 2011 Carl left to go fight for his country. They spoke very little as he wasn’t able to call often.  Many care packages were sent and prayers were said wishing him a safe return home.  It was a long 9 months that he was away and everyone was so happy and relieved when he made it home safely, especially Jessica.  Lance Corporal Carl Vinterella, member of the United States Marine Corps Infantry, we thank you for your service and your bravery.

Now that Carl was finally home the wedding planning could begin.  This wedding will be the grandest of all weddings!  The big day is December 1, 2012 and we are all very excited.  Carl will be wrapping up his final months in the military right before the wedding and will at last come home for good.  I know that they are so excited to finally be in the same state for more than just a few days at a time.  Much love and congratulations to you guys!

I won’t be photographing the wedding because I am proudly serving as a bridesmaid.  Jessica has a great photographer booked so I have faith that she will have fabulous images. 🙂  I was honored to photograph their engagement pictures and am in love with how they turned out.  Can you believe the styling was Carl’s idea?  I was so impressed!  Of course I threw my own touches in but he definitely came up with the idea.  They both look fabulous!

I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do.  I think they are my favorites from this year.  Enjoy!

xoxo,

Amber

P.S. Sorry this post is so long! 🙂

The Corvette belongs to Jessica’s dad.  We know it is from a different era than the styling but it was too cool not to use for a few shots. 🙂

These are my favorites!  I love the story they tell.