A peek through the blinds revealed ominous clouds rolling in from the south. In the Gulf of Mexico, a storm system was rapid-firing patchworks of rain in our direction. Which is supposed to be lucky on a wedding day, of course — except for weddings that are scheduled to take place entirely out of doors, like Amber and Daniel’s.

Their plan was just perfect: A ceremony in an alfalfa field, flanked by two massive oak trees and sparkling Honey Lake down a slope to the right. A sunset reception in the oak grove on the other side of the lake, where daylight would give way to twinkling candles in mason jars dangling from the branches. The backup plans were perfect, too (the stained glass and honey colored wood of the chapel, and the screened-in Lakeside Pavilion that had the airy feel of a reception tent) but not what Amber and Daniel had been working so hard for during their seven month engagement. They had a hay bale lounge area and cornhole planned for their reception, and a set of white doors Daniel and his father had made for Amber’s grand entrance as she came down the aisle. But at 8:00 that morning, it didn’t look like any of that would be happening.

The funny thing about the weather in Florida though is that it’s often extreme and rarely predictable. All morning, as Amber and her girls prepped and Daniel and his boys headed out for some weddin’ day skeet shooting, it poured, then the sun burst through the clouds, then it poured again. We watched the radar obsessively, and by 2:00, Amber had to make the final call: She decided her ceremony and reception would take place outside, rain or shine. And by 2:45, the last of the clouds had rolled out of view, leaving us with a spectacularly sunny, spectacularly wonderful wedding afternoon.

There was love in every detail, in every look this pair shared. I don’t think it gets much more beautiful than this.The white ballroom inside Honey Lake Plantation’s Gathering Hall was absolutely breathtaking. Especially when paired with Amber’s equally breathtaking custom-redesigned Maggie Sottero gown. Amber and her aunt Mina had made a 12 hour round trip — twice — all the way to Atlanta, which was the closest city where Amber located a seamstress willing to take on her vision for the gown. The results couldn’t have been more perfect.While I played with Amber’s gown, Ariat boots, and rings, she was upstairs getting dolled up with her bridesmaids, while her soon-to-be-mother-in-law, aunts, and grandmother watched.Meanwhile, Daniel, the groomsmen, the pastor, and a handful of relatives were dodging the fits of rain out at the skeet shooting range . . . where Daniel opened his wedding gift from Amber.And then it was back to the impressive Lodge at Honey Lake Plantation, where the guys got dressed and ready for the wedding. I love these two next pictures. I love all the pictures Danny captured of Daniel and the guys — but if we could only have two, these would be the ones. What a moment. Just Mom and her baby on his wedding day. Guys get ready faster than girls. A lot faster than girls. Which is a really good thing, because after Daniel was all decked out in his tux, he realized he’d never finished making the box for the “love locks ceremony” he and Amber were going to have in place of a sand ceremony or unity candle. So he just pulled out a hammer and completed the job then and there. That’s the kind of guy Daniel is: If there’s a job to be done, he’ll finish it no matter the circumstances.At the same time, the guys headed outside with Danny for some seriously awesome groom and groomsmen portraits. Those guys looked so good!One of the dozens and dozens of unique details I loved at this wedding: Each groomsman had a different bout. And all the bouts featured buttons, which were also on the bridesmaids’ bouquets, the invitations, and the tables at the reception.Meanwhile, back at the Gathering Hall, Amber’s bridesmaids were decked out in their rainbow-hued-finest, and the bride was ready to step into her dream gown. (And on a side note: To get out of her tee shirt without mussing her lovely updo, Amber went all Superman and ripped her shirt right down the middle!)All done up and in her gown (would you believe it originally had two sleeves?) Amber looked absolutely incredible. And then it was time for one of the biggest moments of the day: Her first look with her dad on the porch of the Gathering Hall. Her aunt Mina and sister Autumn peeked out through the doors with tissues in hand.We jumped right into a few portraits with the bridesmaids, whose cheery dresses made up for a lack of sunshine.Wow, right?! Those girls worked it! But then, as we wrapped up individual shots of Amber with each of her girls, the clouds rolled aside again and the vivid sunshine we would enjoy for the rest of the day began streaming down on us just as we started one of my absolutely favorite parts of every wedding, the bride’s portraits. And Amber — oh my. She looked fabulous.With the afternoon suddenly steamy and sunny, I steered Amber back into the air conditioning to wait for the big moment that would come next. I could practically hear her heart pounding.

Back in the ballroom, we took the opportunity to get a shot Amber had wanted with the three flower girls — Daniel’s nieces. This wasn’t the exact shot she’d had in mind. We did get that one; this is just the one that stole my heart.And then, a few moments alone to quiet her heart. Because her wedding ceremony was in just half an hour — but first, Daniel was about to join her on the back porch. They weren’t having a first look; they didn’t want to see each other. They were going to have a “no-look” — an opportunity to hold hands around the corner, and to just be together one last time before they met again at the altar.My own heart is beating wildly again just typing this! What an emotional few moments. But what a serene and beautiful bride. I was so, so happy to be there for those moments, for that bride, and I just have to sigh happily thinking back over that day!

See Part II of Amber and Daniel’s beautiful wedding here!

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