When we first moved to Clarksdale, MS 6 years ago we had 2 small children and didn’t know a soul. We would visit a small downtown café frequently, juggling kids and trying to get some much needed coffee. Almost every time we visited we were greeted by this beautiful girl with the most wonderful sweetness. She always would ask if she could hold our squirming baby and when we saw our baby transfixed by her, my husband and I looked at each other and said, “Babysitter!”

Hannah was such a big part of why we fell in love with our small rural town and have loved calling her our friend. So when I was asked to shoot her wedding, I knew it would be an emotional one. Her husband, Vernon, has been so wonderful to get to know and seeing them together is one of the sweetest things you’ll ever see. Definitely twitter-paited.

Being a relatively cold Mississippi December day, a lot of the wedding day took place at one of the most beautiful accommodations in Clarksdale, the Traveler’s Hotel. It’s a gorgeous hotel that has been recently renovated to mix modern with remnants of the past. Being a time of Covid, Vernon’s family unfortunately could not travel from South Africa. But 2 of his closest South African “maatjies” were already living Stateside and were able to join him. It was so fun to hear Afrikaans spoken throughout the day followed by clouds of laughter.

Family and friends came together for the cake, food and décor. It was a small gathering but full of love and fun and beauty. I may have cried once or twice as I took it all in. Especially seeing the full circle of Hannah’s sister, Alison, who was my very first bride. Just so thankful I have the most amazing brides to work with. Congratulations you beautiful people! My skeetuig is vol palings!