Kelly Chandler

Okay, get ready to do a whole lot of scrolling.  This will be the longest blog post in history.  I flew with my husband and 2 kids to Hilton Head Island, SC in early October for my cousin Ashley Fronczak’s wedding to Richard Tamayo.  We stayed at the Disneyland Resort on Hilton Head Island.  Richie is the “Director of Fun” at the resort….he has a more proper title but his “cast-members” that he oversees clearly adore him.  From the moment we checked in at the resort, we were treated like family.  I figured we wouldn’t be spending much time in the room so we just got a studio with a pull out couch for the kids.  When we arrived at our room, Richie had upgraded us to this AMAZING 2 bedroom suite with a living-room, kitchen, a view of the marsh and it’s amazing wildlife.  Wow, what a treat.  Thanks Richie. 

We spent the first day on the water with a dolphin cruise.  Here Ashley is cuddling up with Brooke (my daughter on the left) and my niece, Alexis. 

 

It was so fun to see wildlife that we would never see in Seattle.

 

The dolphins swam all around us.

 

My nephew Dominic watches as Dalton (my son) shows off a crab claw.  They pulled up a crab pot and caught a fish on their tour. 

 

Back on land, the girls follow Auntie Carolyn on a bike ride around the resort. 

 

Cousin Sarah brought her horse Niko home from Georgia so the kids could ride.   Brooke felt totally comfortable riding Niko bareback. 

 

Dalton rode with Sarah but he also loved leading Niko around by a rope.  Here Niko nudged him and almost knocked him over. 

 

Meet Onyx, Sarah’s ENORMOUS dog.

 

Aunt Brenda and Uncle Gary (Mother/Father of the bride) have a beautiful home on acres of waterfront just off the island.  We went to their house for a low country boil.  Richie took the kids riding around in the John Deere tractor.  When they left, Richie was driving.  Somehow 20 minutes later they returned with my son behind the wheel and Richie running behind trying to catch them. 

  

 

I loved the table decor.  It felt so island-like.

 

Sunset on the dock.

 

The evening was beautiful and once we all got bug spray going…..we were in good shape.  I loved this shot of Brenda and Gary’s home and the evening sky.

 

ON TO THE WEDDING DAY…….. 

Here Mom helps Ashley into her gown. 

 

Ashley was breathtaking.  Her gown was exquisite and she was every bit the beautiful bride that I had imagined she would be.

 

 

 

Ashley asked Brooke and Alexis to be flower-girls for her big day.

 

Brooke sees all these beautiful brides and flower-girls as I work on photos in my office.  This was her first time being in a wedding and she was so very honored.  Thank you Ashley for letting her participate in such a special way.

 

Richie also asked Dominic and Dalton to be ring bearers.  They looked so adorable in their tuxedos.  Richie, from the moment we met you, we could not have been more impressed.  Your charisma is phenomenal.  Thank you for taking the boys in as part of your family.  They LOVED you.  Dalton is doing all kinds of card tricks for his friends.  I know being a magician is just a fun hobby for you….but you truly are a magical man.  

 

 

 

 

A beautiful moment between mother and daughter.

 

Ashley and her Dad as they come down the aisle.  Uncle Gary’s face is exactly what I had expected it would be….full of pride, excitement, joy, and nerves. 

 

 

 

A quick look over the shoulder to see what mom was up to…..I love this shot. 

 

 

The details of Ashley’s dress were beautiful.  This is a hanky that was a baby bonnet she wore as a newborn.

 

 

 

 

Ashley and Richie surprised everyone with a choreographed dance that was fantastic. 

 

 

 

 

Another proud papa moment during the father daughter dance.   

 

So thats me inbetween both my cousins.  Richie is now officially my cousin. Heels and a dress with spaghetti straps is not my usual wedding photography work attire.  I changed into a dress during the reception so I could feel more like a guest.  Let me tell you, trying to keep the dress straps up and not have the camera strap pull it down was an interesting maneuver.  I don’t think I’ll be wearing something quite so fancy for next weekend’s wedding. 

 

Time to call it a night.  They left in style running through sparklers to their get-a-way car.  Unfortunately, this was it for the photography.  We had grand plans to spend Sunday at the beach doing a post wedding photo shoot in their wedding attire.  I had visions of her veil blowing in the wind with the sand dunes and ocean as our backdrop.  We were also going to get playful on the shoreline, not worry about the dress getting wet or sandy and create some edgy romantic images.  We awoke on the day after the wedding to sideways rain and winds that never stopped until the sky was black that night.  It was such a bummer.  Monday the weather was 85 and sunny….but they had left for their honeymoon. 

Ashley and Richie, I love you both.  It was so fun to capture your celebrations for you.  xoxoxo