Greenville, SC Wedding Photographer | Erin O'Neil Photography Blog

He lives in Iraq. She lives in Georgia.  After they exchange their wedding vows in August, they will never be apart again.

I met Jess when she was just a little freshman and joined the Water Ski Team with her twin sister, Hannah.  I pretty much fell in love with those twins immediately!  They are fiery, sassy and still like the sweetest people I’ve ever met.  By the way, I’m still trying to master that combo for myself.  We spent a ton of time together that year and I can without a doubt say that it was my best year in college mostly due to Jess and Hannah.  Seeing the girls at my wedding last year was the first time I had seen them since I graduated.  Kyle couldn’t make the wedding because he had just recently move to Iraq for work.

Since Kyle moved to Iraq I have had so many meaningful (and hopefully encouraging) talks with Jess about surviving a long distance relationship. I’m no couples counselor, but I think I deserve some street cred for having survived my own LD relationship for 3 years.  From these talks I learned a lot about Jess & Kyle’s relationship and why it works.  It works, because they want it too.  That’s it.  I don’t mean to make it sound simple or easy, because it’s definitely not.  But Jess and Kyle made the decision a long time before being engaged that there was no option for them other than loving each other.  So that’s what they did.  They loved each other regardless of the obstacles.  They loved each other because that’s what they were made to do.

Kyle will be moving back to Georgia after spending 1 year in Iraq and he and Jess will wed this fall.  There is no doubt in my mind that these two will have a beautiful marriage filled with laughter (lots of laughter) and an unending commitment to each other.  Oh.  And pretty babies.

So of course Georgia is going through some crazy cold weather streak and it was ridiculously cold all weekend.  Mid 50’s on Friday (sweet!) and 20’s – 30’s during the weekend (boo!).  I wore my fingerless gloves again and again they failed me.  We did the shoot at Stone Mountain Park.  I hadn’t been there since I was a kid and it was crazy to see how much it has changed!  Okay, I’ll stop talking now.

Kyle & Jess recently watched Dirty Dancing and apparently Kyle was inspired to try the lift.

Mmmm. Me likey.

I had the genius idea that we should go to the top of the mountain since it was such a clear day.  We rode the cable cars and right before we get off the cable car driver tells us that the temperature at the top is 9 degrees.  Jess & Kyle were probably ready to push me off the mountain at this point.  But they didn’t.  Such good sports.

Much much warmer at the bottom!

Sexiness.

Jess & Kyle: Thanks for not hating me for making you go to the top of the mountain.  I really really appreciate it.  Love you guys and can’t wait to see you again soon!