Holley and Trey’s Beach Wedding

Every true love story is inspirational to its reader… This love story goes even beyond that. The journey that brought Holley and Trey to the alter brings hope for the broken hearted and light for those that feel that there is no way out of the tunnel.

On December 12, 2013 Trey’s wife, Jane, passed away nine days after giving birth to their third child. At that moment Trey was faced with what seemed an impossible task of raising three children alone. Not just three children, but three children under the age of 5. Chloe (4), Ava (1), and Tobiah (9 days). The first year brought many ups and downs, but in November, life as Trey knew it would change, once again.

Holley decided to send Trey a message about getting together and making homemade Christmas ornaments. She knew what he had been through and just felt God leading her to help him. She knew how much her daughter Ella would enjoy it, so she thought why not include him and his daughters too. They decided to get together on December 11, 2014. She was very nervous, so nervous she forgot one of the key ingredients involved in making the ornaments. Trey being the awesome man he is, offered to go buy some so she wouldn’t have to leave and go all the way home. When they met that night, they knew something was different, but neither knew what God had in store for them. After she left that night, they continued to text all through the night. There was an instant best friend connection. The very next day they met for lunch. (Trey actually picked her up at her house 😍) They had a great day just talking and laughing. The next few weeks they saw each other several times a week and grew closer and closer with one another. It seemed as if Thursday’s were their favorite days. Holley brought food over twice and both times it was on a Thursday. They would also get together just to let the kids play. Holley enjoyed her time with them. She was able to be that woman they had been missing. The girls were able to do girl things like paint their nails, brush their hair, and even put on makeup! On January 10, Holley stepped up in a huge way and helped plan for Chloe’s 5th birthday. That is the day Trey knew she was the one. He had thought a lot about her before that day, but that day his thoughts were confirmed. On January 12, 2015 they officially started dating. You know, calling each other their boyfriend and girlfriend. In 2015 people have to classify things, you can’t just go without an actual label. They didn’t waste anytime at all, just 5 short days later Holley took Trey to meet her family. The next day she took him to meet her Papaw, the only man in her life that she refers to as, “the man that hung the moon.” On January 31, they went on their first out of town trip for Trey’s birthday. That is where they had their first official date without kids. It was beautiful and they were both so nervous. Once they got back home they sat down and wanted to know what they had to do to make sure they never had to leave each other’s side again. While Holley was talking to her Mom, she told her that Trey hung the moon. At that moment, her moms prayers had been answered and she realized this was the one. Holley had never referred to anyone other than her papaw as hanging the moon. On February 12, they put an offer in on a house. The marriage planning began and the excitement continued to build. Finally on March 13, Trey and his children proposed. And we all know she said yes. When people caught wind of what was going on they all asked when and where they were going to get married. Their first thought and plan was to just get eloped on a beach with just immediate family. Their friends began to be saddened by the fact they couldn’t be there to enjoy the moment with them. So they decided to open the invitation up to anyone that wanted to come. The only stipulation… They weren’t paying for anything. They closed on their house on March 30 and started moving things immediately. The goal was to be 100% moved before the wedding and they met that goal. On April 18, 2015 these two beautiful individuals were married in Jacksonville Beach, FL. To get your friends to come to your wedding is usually a chore but the free food and entertainment will usually help. They had 42 of their closest friends and family there from over 7 hours away and they didn’t offer them anything other than a good time. And that it was!

I was honored to be there to capture their moment…