"We grew up 15 minutes down the road from each other but didn't actually meet and get together until New Years Eve 2012 in Nashville, TN while both visiting our siblings who are friends. I knew of him through his brother and his cousin, who also happened to be one of my friends. She had always put little bugs in our ears that we should meet and hang out but it seemed like one of us was in another relationship when the other one was not so the timing was never right. After that New years, Ben started visiting me in Statesboro, where I was still in school at Georgia Southern, and I would visit him back home. I always said I wanted to move to Nashville upon graduating so when May rolled around, I went forward with my plans with the understanding we would try to make the long distance thing work. Things progressed and got more serious and after being there a year, I decided to move home so we could be closer and see more of each other. Fast forward to now and well.. now we're getting married! I prayed about the situation constantly and felt like God was leading me back home. I missed my family too and was quite homesick. Even though it's cliche, the saying "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans" rings so true for me."
We both grew up in Georgia and lived 30 minutes away from each other. But it would have been too convenient to meet that way. During the summer of our sophomore year we both took a trip with Harding University for a summer abroad in Florence, Italy. Jackson attends Lipscomb University so not a lot of people knew him at the beginning of the trip. As it would turn out, we ended up sitting next to each other on the plane ride over. Megan has a rule of not talking to strangers on planes, so we rode the whole way over to Italy without saying a word. As the summer started we ended up spending more and more time with each other and figured out that we knew a lot of the same people. We were lucky enough to travel all over eastern Europe together and share amazing memories!
I love how much they laugh together!
Bringing back some memories from Italy by eating pizza at Doughboy Pizza downtown Macon!
"We met in 8th grade when I (Blake) transferred to Dublin Middle School from East Laurens Middle School. I had blonde highlights in my hair and Jessica had a mouth full of braces. It was a weird, awkward, and unexplainable connection as most 8th grade puppy love is. We dated and split twice before I worked up the nerve to ask her to be my girlfriend in the alley way beside the Dublin Theatre after her dance recital, explaining to her the "third times a charm". Turns out that very spot would be where we experienced our first look."
Throughout the day, the Thomas brothers made a music video to Carley Rae Jepsen's "I Really Like You". I'll post the epic video at the bottom of this blog post!
This group LOVES to dance! I love it!!!
What was your wedding party introduction song?
"Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars"
What was your Bride & Groom introduction song?
"Turn Down for What by DJ Snake ft. Lil Jon"
What was your first dance song?
"We Got Us by Canaan Smith"
What was your father/daughter song?
"Walk With You by Edwin McCain"
What was your mother/son song?
"Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd"
How did you feel when you saw each other for the first time on the wedding day?
"It was a roller coaster of emotions. Nervous, excited, anxious, happy, relieved. All the feelings and emotions we've felt at different points in our relationship culminate into that one moment and it literally took our breath away. All we could do was hug it out. No words were needed. Simply from the embrace and the look in one another's eyes, we knew exactly how each other felt and everything either of us wanted to say."
What was the most memorable moment of the day?
"It's hard to pick a favorite moment in a day filled with moments like those. For me (Blake), like most grooms, the moment those doors opened and the person I've always hoped and dreamed about being in that moment with me is the actual person who emerges from the doorway, eagerly pacing towards me, absolutely glowing and smiling. Memorable is an understatement of what that moment was for me. For me (Jessica) I've got several moments that stick out. I shared that moment with Blake the moment the doors opened. I immediately locked on to him. I didn't see anyone but him. During our unity sand we laughed and cut up, but it was also sweet with the song in the background. It was a moment that reminded me of our fun-loving relationship. The moment we were walking out holding hands, and he dipped and kissed me at the door, it sank in in that moment that we were FINALLY husband and wife."
If you could do it all over again, would you change anything?
"We would only slow down time and take it all in. We both imagined what that day would be like for a while, but it turned out way better than we ever dreamed."
Do you have any advice to other brides & grooms?
"Just take it all in. Just remember your wedding day is a lot like your relationship. It'll take a lot of work, It wont be anywhere near perfect, When you least expect it you're going to create a memory, and at the end of the day it will all come full circle and you'll be right back where you started, just you and her(him). Don't forget what got your relationship to that point. Cut loose, dance, laugh, and just have fun. "
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
"Montego Bay, Jamaica"
Jessica & Blake, thank you for letting us photograph your wedding day. I can't tell you how much we loved it!! Y'all were so much fun & I feel completely honored that you chose me to capture the day. -Ashah
As promised, here is the epic music video the Thomas brothers did on the wedding day!!
Also, you have to check out their proposal video! Goodness I tear up every time I watch it!
This group LOVES to dance! I love it!!!
