Michael and Lanette: Married!

To think it began with two broken hearts.

Finding themselves both frustrated after dealing with respective breakups, good friends Mike and Lanette knew that something in their lives had to change. Fed up with the drama of breaking up, they both realized that what the other one needed was simply a break. And so, two friends, committed to being open and honest about themselves and their relationship habits (so easy, since nothing romantic would ever happen between them!), formed what came to be known as "The Pact."

Mike and Lanette committed themselves to remain single, dating no one, for 6 months. An entire half a year dedicated to prayer, reflection, and journaling together about communication, struggles, hopes, disappointments, and desires. The Pact began on November 18, 2006. Needless to say, it took far less than six months for them to realize how much they had in common, how much their friendship had grown, how much trust and respect they had for each other, and how, somewhere along the journey, the slowly realized they were falling in love. In each other's eyes they saw vision and promise for a blessed future together. In each other's hands they found the strength to pick up the pieces and begin again. In each other's presence they found the serenity that they had been looking for.

We are all amazed and thankful they finally found what was always right in front of them.

And so, it was an honor to photograph the intimate moments of commitment between two best friends. in the midst of all sorts of "technical difficulties," from rain to sound to seating, all that mattered on this day was that two would become one. And in the presence of the closest family and friends, that is exactly what they pledged to always be.





A few details ...








One of our favorites ...


Mike and Lanette had their own logo! It was on the stationery, the invitations, the buttons, everwhere! To include, the runner that Lanette made herself ...





Lanette's father is one of the sweetest people we've ever met ... he kept her hidden from view while the flower girl walked down the aisle, and Lanette prepared for her grand entrance:







After so long, now pronounced husband & wife:






A beauty shot of Lanette - isn't she just stunning?


The bridal party - they were so supportive and loving and encouraging! We love them!


A few more lovely details:






Congratulations, Mike and Lanette ... may your lives be long and prosperous!

Michael & Lanette: E-Session

I met Mike years and years ago while I was in high school via BlackPlanet** (a predated, pre-fab attempt at social networking ... those Facebook creators were probably still prepubescent at the time!!) I had connected with a group of creative friends -- photographers, musicians, web designers -- for a school project, and was soon "adopted" by my big brother Miguel. He was great -- there to help me through some really difficult "high school drama" moments, a bona fide mentor in everything from the piano to Photoshop, and super-encouraging about the possibilities of life (not to mention, Miguel sent me SO MUCH free software when I never would have been able to afford it otherwise ... everything I know about graphics, I got from Miguel).

In fact, Miguel was the first person I tried my "free postage" trick with (his idea, my lab test, lol). Did you know that if you send a card, putting your (the sender) address where you normally put the "to" (the recipient) address, and put your penpal (the recipient) address where you normally put the return address, and you drop it in the mail with NO POSTAGE ... that the US Mail service will stamp no postage and "return to sender" ... which will have been listed as the person you were sending it to?? Genius, lol.

At any rate, when he heard about what Leia and I were doing, he gladly signed us up for his forthcoming wedding (and I can't wait to show you those pictures!!) So, a few weeks ago, we headed up to Shockhoe Slip in Richmond, VA -- a halfway point between North Carolina and DC -- to capture some pre-wedding pictures. Meet Mike and Lanette ...







The skies dramatically opened and rain began to fall pretty soon after we began our shoot, which was of great relief to our pollen-laden landscape (seriously, in North Carolina and Virginia, everything turns bright yellow come April and May!), but was a little traumatic for our baby cameras! So, we ducked inside a cute restaurant for some salads, Shirley Temples, and this sweet moment:



We decided to bear the rain a bit, thanks to Mike's big black umbrella. He admits that he didn't exactly "see" what we were going for, but this little "let the love rain down" series made the wetness worth it:





Before heading out, we saw this great wall and thought of Mike and Lanette having superstar status. Unfortunately, Mike was quickly accused of treason, having jeopardized his status as an official Washington Redskins fan. To that, Mike has a brief statement: Before we took this shot, we verified with the Department of Redskins Fans Affairs that this wasn't a Cowboys star. I have the paperwork.

On with the Dallas Cowboys, er, I mean, the nice shots against the wall ... *smile*







Stay tuned for the wedding pictures ...


**Disclaimer: I can hear some of you now: "So, Amey ... you met this random older-guy-dude on the Internet in high school? " LOL. In no way, shape, or form do I think you should let your children run free online!!! I met Mike as I was looking for mentors to learn from, and was totally legitimized by his (a) willingness to communicate with my parents -- he *almost* made it to my high school graduation, and (b) that I didn't meet just one person, but a great group of friends who were actually friends of friends in the various MD/DC/VA Christian music circles, known then by aliases such as [insert shoutout] 6-3brotha, j276, latina_flava, 11-2-Heaven, springhonie, Altar_Ego, dragonflyy, Nsashible, cutieerica, and more [end shoutout] ... (That's a throwback for ya!!!) So yeah ... its not as sketch as it sounds, and after eight years, we look back on those relationships with awe ... thank for everything, BP fam!!! Love, Ava48140**