Stephanie + Josh | Tampa Theatre Wedding

One day, a long, long, time ago, I recall being in the elevator with Stephanie at the Tampa Bay Times and she commenting on a recent wedding that I'd photographed. She told me she liked the images and that if she'd ever get married she'd want me to photograph it. I've held onto that thought because I've always thought of Stephanie's style as fun and spunky and wanted to definitely capture it on her wedding day. It's also pretty obvious that I enjoy photographing weddings that are unique. It sound cliche but Josh and Stephanie's wedding is about as unique as they come. When they told me about some of the surprises to come on their wedding day I laughed out loud so hard. I was delighted and excited as ever. I mean, tacos and drag queens. Wouldn't you be giddy?Given that it's Stephanie and Josh's wedding, I'd like to point out that they're not the type to call themselves perfect but I would like to also point out that they're damn good writers. Just read these vows:Josh: Everything will work out fine.

That’s what we’re about. It’s the philosophy you and I live by. That no matter how dark times may seem, no matter how stressful a trial turns out to be, we’ll get through it.

It may not end up exactly the way we’d once imagined or hoped. It will happen the way it is going to happen, and that’s a good thing. We will accept things as they are, because in the end, everything works out fine.

That’s life. That’s how it works. And it will make us happy if we let it.

It has made me happy, more than I ever thought possible. With you I’ve found the life I didn’t know I truly wanted, but had been missing.

But wait, there's more:

I vow to be gender normative when convenient, to squash bugs and fix the sink as such things become necessary.

I vow to watch the occasional cult murder drug death documentary with you, without protesting too much.

I vow to be a faithful and loving husband, and to remember what it was that made us want to stand here and promise these things to one another.

Stephanie: I’m here because I know you buy small batch American-made products because after the zombie takeover, you understand that we need a manufacturing industry to rebuild. And I respect that.

I’m here because there is something true about science-y, chemical-y love, and I didn’t know that until I loved you. I just want to be near you. You always smell good to me, even after you’ve built me a table.

I’m here because you can build me a table. And you do.

I’m here because you have the most attractive extremities. Your fingers and toes are 100 percent beauty. I’m here to make you spaghetti squash and zoodles so you can keep them for a very long time.

Again, there's more: I’m here because you make me better at my work. You ask questions I have never thought of. I tell you a fascinating statistic, and you go, “Is that a lot?” And I am left like, dur hur hur because I honestly don’t know.

I’m here because you inspire me. I’m here because I know what you’re going to order off a menu. I’m here because I want to tell you pretty much everything.

I’m here because you cry.

 I've read these vows over and over. I think we should all read them and let them ponder. Stephanie and Josh are dedicated to each other and the fun of the life they've created together and hopefully these images give us just a glimpse of what a fun, amazing, life they have to come. Dress Designer: Summer Gray/Designs to ShineWedding Officiant: Victoria MichaelsVenue: Tampa TheatreCaterer: Taco BusDJ: Grant Hemond and AssociatesSecond Shooter and my favorite sidekick: Dirk Shadd