Jerri + Mike – A Surprise Wedding!

Jerri’s daughter, Jessica, contacted me a few weeks ago to hire me to shoot some family portraits.  She explained that her mom, Jerri, was marrying Mike down in St. John, and the weekend before they left the family was having a dinner party to celebrate.  My services were intended to be a surprise gift for Jerri so she could have some formal family photos.

As it turns out, the surprise was on Jessica (and the rest of the family.)  Jerri called me about a week later saying that Jessica had spilled the beans about hiring me – but she wanted to let me in on another secret.  The family had been a bit disappointed they wouldn’t be attending the ceremony in the Caribbean, so as a surprise Jerri and Mike decided to be married that night in St. Charles!  None of the family knew the wedding was going to take place, so I had to keep quiet.

On Saturday night, shortly after I arrived at the Embassy Suites where the family dinner was taking place, Jerri and Mike led their 14 family members back to a private room for dinner.  A few minutes later, Jessica’s 4-year-old daughter came into the room with a small bouquet and she had an announcement – that Mike and Jerri were getting married.  Jerri had made a quick change into her wedding dress and the couple came into the room to surprise their family, who were genuinely shocked!  They then all shuffled over the the Conservatory in downtown St. Charles for an intimate candlelit ceremony.

What a beautiful venue for an intimate ceremony!  Jerri and Mike are still going to St. John next week, but now the trip is a honeymoon instead of a destination wedding :)  Congratulations to them, and good work on keeping such a big secret!