andie + mikal
Andie & Mikal are one of a kind, and I really can’t begin tell you the honor that it was to be the photographer that they chose to capture their day. I already went on and on about how joyful and Christ-centered the day was, but let me just do it again. These two are so filled with genuine laughter and love for each other and those around them. In his speech, one of the groomsmen said that Andie & Mikal bring the fun, and I can say this is 100% spot on! Andie & Mikal are best friends, and it shows in a million and one ways. Honestly, I wouldn’t be doing them justice by trying to describe them or tell their story, so I’m going to let one of Andie’s first e-mails to me do the talking (p.s. have your kleenex handy!) —
“Mikal and I met in Kindergarten and grew up going to the same private Christian school K-12th grade with only about 20 kids in our class. He doesn’t have any memories of me from elementary school, but I have some of him! In Kindergarten I remember the first time I saw him and I was standing with a group of girls in my class and we all giggled and thought he was SO cute because his hair looked like Elvis! (How we knew who Elvis was at age 5… beats me). In 6th grade we sat next to each other for a few months, and one time we both have the distinct memory of me pulling out a single grey hair on his head, and I always joked since then that I am the cause of his fully grey head of hair! From the age of 15-18 I distinctly remember always thinking “man, whoever Mikal ends up with is going to be incredibly lucky”.
In high school we became closer and he was one of my best guy friends all 4 years. I was dating someone else for almost all of high school entirely, and Mikal helped convince me to break up with him because it was terribly unhealthy. At the time, we were just friends. Over the next few months (so the tail end of senior year), I started developing feelings for him and had NO idea what the heck to do with them! I was surprised and confused all at the same time. For about two months I went back and forth being unsure if he felt the same way about me. Then, right before graduation, we went on our senior trip to the Oregon coast.
Here’s my awesome story: On the last night of the trip, I was determined to find out if he liked me or not for REAL so I could either move on, or move forward with him. We were all watching a movie, and I sat between him and another guy. About 30 minutes into the movie I PRETENDED to fall asleep. Over the next hour and a half, I slowwwwwwwly inched my head toward his shoulder. Que the neck pain. It was so hard to fake being asleep for that long! But, about 10 minutes before the movie was over, Mikal’s arms were crossed and underneath his forearm with his hand he started slowly rubbing my arm ever so sweetly. Everything clicked right then – He liked me too! When the movie ended he jumped up super quickly, which I took as he didn’t want me to know what he was doing. Best night ever. A couple weeks later I finally decided to tell him I had feelings for him and wanted to be more than friends. The rest is history, right? ;)
Bouquets/Boutineer/Crowns: Columbia City Bouquet
Venue: The Loft
Caterer: Ramblin Jacks
Dress: BHLDN
Video: Storybox Cinema
Calligraphy: Karlee Sampson
Coordinator: Sommer Kirk
Grooms ring: Staghead Designs
Bridesmaid dresses: Show Me Your Mumu
Cake: Soren Sweet