Adam & Kelsey: West Manor Estate Wedding + Virginia Wedding Photographer + Lynchburg Wedding Photographer

When I met Kelsey and her momma, Cindy, to discuss the possibility of me photographing Kelsey and Adam’s West Manor Estate wedding, I knew instantly that they’d be a couple that would end up near and dear to my heart. There’s a genuine compassion and love that shines in Kelsey’s eyes, and sometimes you just know when you meet someone you hope stays in your life for a long time. Kelsey and Adam are high school sweethearts, having met through sports and short bus rides, and after having texted Adam one night for a quick double date, the rest was history. Kelsey reflected on that night and on high school and college, saying, “He agreed to the movies, so we went and it was magical. It was the first time we really got to spend time together other than a short bus ride!! I pretty much fell head over heels for him from that night on. At the movies, we held hands like little, young lovebirds do, and I just had all the butterflies!! He always tells me that he remembers how sunburned I was that day, but that I looked so beautiful to him. I truly love that amazing day, and wish we could go back to re-live it. It’s amazing to me how God works all of this out and how he knew we were meant for each other. Adam asked me to be his girlfriend about two weeks later, and we have been together ever since! (No breakups even though we certainly had our share of arguments…what couple doesn’t?) Nevertheless, our love story is my absolute favorite, and I’m not sure how I would have survived all those teenage years without him. We have grown and changed as individuals in many ways, but I am thankful he has been by my side through it all. I get asked a lot if I ever think about what it would be like to not date Adam. For example, in college, I was asked, “Don’t you want to see what else is out there!?!” I simply replied, “absolutely not.” He is my person, and I am his. I couldn’t imagine a day without his love! To me, I never needed to wonder or explore other people, because I knew it would always be him.”

While Kelsey planned their West Manor Estate wedding, Kelsey and I had some of the best conversations about life, love, and marriage and its ups and downs, and it was like listening to a friend talk about marriage as if she’d been married for as long as I have. (12 years this weekend!) I knew instantly that their wedding day was going to be filled with more love and family than I had already anticipated. And it was.

I arrived at West Manor Estate on that rainy Saturday morning, and it was instant calm. Kelsey’s momma and sister greeted me with hugs, Kelsey greeted me with, “I knew everything would come together the moment you got here!”, and her squad was made up of some of the most incredibly sweet women I’ve ever met. But from there, the laughter ensued, the tears flowed, and I choked back tears at the sight of Adam’s reaction to her walking down the aisle. Just wait. The reactions of BOTH of them are PERFECT. But the best part? The rain would stop before photos started. The sun would come through the clouds during the ceremony, and the rain wouldn’t begin until the skies opened up on their sparkler exit. Everything about their day went perfectly, and it was truly a West Manor Estate wedding to remember. I’m not sure I can find the words to ever properly describe how I feel, but I can tell you this. It’s days like this that are the reason I do what I do. And for that, I’m truly grateful.

Kelsey and Adam? My wish for you is that your life is filled with the joy and love you felt this day. That the strength and blessings you’ve had until now continue to show up in your life. I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to play such a small part in your very grand story.