I met Cindy when I was first starting as a wedding photographer in Northwest Arkansas. I was immediately drawn to spending time with her because of her genuine presence and her passion for florals. About a year after meeting Cindy, I met her husband James for the first time. He drove forty-five minutes to help me set up a floral arch for a friends proposal. My experience with James was the same, so genuine, and such a joy for life. I loved these people.

As I got to know them better I learned their story; they got married during Cindy's lunch break at a floral shop twenty-three years ago. Yes, she went back to work after. That was it! They never had a celebration or any fancy clothes, instead they had two sons and started working hard. Cindy pushed toward her dream of having her own floral shop and has since become one of Northwest Arkansas' go-to gals for wedding florals. The queen of wedding florals that never got to have wedding florals of her own. As I heard bits and pieces of their story I became more and more obsessed and joined the gang of humans that wanted Cindy and James to have their fairytale wedding. When Cindy called and said they were going to do it I was thrilled to have the opportunity to take photos.

Cindy spent months curating details for this celebration. She wanted to honor and celebrate all the of the people that had poured themselves into them as a couple. From two dollar bills at each place setting to represent an old family tradition, to her late father's hat at the top of their cake display. This is a special one, friends.