Amanda and Chris’ personal and heartfelt nuptials were the best way to kick off my summer season. Amanda and Chris met at YMCA Camp Tockwogh when they both worked as staff members. So it only seemed appropriate to bring it all back where it started. Everything about their day revolved around just how special their love for each other was, and two lives from across the ocean coming together.
The venue was at YMCA Camp Tockwogh in Worton, Maryland. I was so excited to come back and shoot another wedding in this spectacular location. It has something for everyone – beautiful woods, amazing waterfront, and the best sunsets in the world. Not to mention it is special to me as well. I worked at Camp Tockwogh and went there as a camper as well. So this place is hold a place in my heart and capture love at Tockwogh is so perfect.
Their ceremony was filled with Camp Traditions. One of the best moments was when their close camp friend told the “Starfish Story.” A tradition at camp that teaches kids about kindness and how even the smallest action can have last impacts on someone.
Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.
Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”
The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”
The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”
The forecast for the day called for rainstorms. But the weather held off until after the ceremony and allowed for us to capture amazing photos of the sunset down at the main beach. The lighting from the sun created an absolutely gorgeous effect.
The reception was packed with amazing speeches that told their love stories and funny moments to make this day truly unique. It was a pleasure to be apart of their special day.
Jacqueline Jablecki 