Swoon worthy.
The classic romance story of "The Girl Next Door" actually came true with Brandon and Mallory. From the moment I met this couple, I instantly fell in love with their love! In high school, Brandon moved next door to Mallory, and the rest is history. I don't know if I've met a couple more go-with-the-flow and eager to just spread love and laughter around with the people they loved. Meeting their families made this couple "make sense." They're fun-loving, generous, energetic, and close knit. Hearing hilarious stories of childhood and fond memories of passed members really made me feel like I was part of them for the day.
Mallory and Brandon are a couple I won't forget purely because of the intentionality and beauty of the day and the way they looked at each other. Wowza.
I'm thankful for Laura Mayfield for coordinating the day flawlessly. Her ability to navigate the venue and timeline for the day was awesome.
I'm super glad y'all #hadtobeHennessy. It was a good choice!
Venue: Stone Crest Venue Mckinney, TX
Dress: A and Be Bridal Shop, Truvelle Bridal
Kate + Scott. My international sweethearts. My long-distance warriors. You two are champions.
After meeting in Aussieland, they sparked a flame with several time zones separating them. And finally after a surprise American-soil proposal in Lubbock, TX they got married in stormy Houston, and they now have no oceans between them-- just the Perth sand between their toes and forever and a day awaiting them.
I loved their wedding day because it was the truest and rawest celebration of their love, family, and seeing hopes and dreams finally come to fruition. It takes insane dedication. y'all, to pursue someone that is thousands of miles away. But they did it. And they did it well. I really love you, Kate + Scott Anderson. Thank you for fighting for one another.
I'll start this blog post out by saying this is personal and transparent and vulnerable. This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and I've been challenged and convicted to tell my story. Should I use my business website and blog to tell my personal story? I'm not sure, but I'm going to because this is the platform the Lord has allowed me to have, and I will use it the most pure way possible.
My name is Annique Dentino, and what most people do not know is that I struggled with a very secret eating disorder from 7th grade until about my freshman year of college. It all started when someone that I saw as a role model spoke words that locked chains over me for almost a decade. Words truly have the power of life and death, and in this instance, I believe part of my innocence and youth died from words that were spoken over me. From that day forward, I began purging my food whenever I ate. I became bulimic. I then became locked in this deadly cycle of body image issues, self-hatred, and self-mutilation through my eating disorder.
One day, I was purging at my best friend's house when she caught me in the bathroom. She quite literally freaked out on me and told me she would tell my parents and her parents if I didn't stop. I became so scared, that I hid my habit even more. No one knew this inner demon I was fighting alone. No one would have ever guessed I was slowly killing myself because I was always happy and smiling. But most importantly, no one would have guessed I was dealing with this struggle because I wasn't exceptionally thin. You see, the face of an eating disorder isn't just an emaciated female with all of her bones showing and crying in the bathroom corner. No, the face of an eating disorder could look as "normal" as I looked; 140 pounds, an athlete, dancer, joyful and fun. But my heart was breaking because I chose to believe the lie that I was fat because I didn't have society's standard of a perfect body.
All of high school I purged. I would body check and cry and hate myself all while still functioning very well in society. Why is it that something like this could go so unnoticed? Why did I feel like if I asked for help, I would be labeled weak, a freak, or even judged? Because society doesn't want to look at anything that doesn't fit into its pretty little box. Society is more concerned with keeping its outside appearance that it won't allow the hurting and broken to have a voice to speak out for help. Eating disorders do not discriminate. They are rampant among young teens to the older generation of women AND men. Yes, men too are struggling with this disease and feel helpless to break free because we don't allow an avenue of conversation to happen to begin helping people get healthy.
So how did my story end? Well it's definitely still being written, but I am so thankful to say that I am free from my bulimia. I honestly believe my relationship with God and finally telling my closest inner circle what my struggle was helped me break free from this plague. I've stopped purging, yes, but honestly sometimes the thought life is still very strong. I find myself comparing my body to other people's and wishing I was someone else, but when I start talking about my feelings and telling the people that love me what I'm struggling with, it doesn't let Satan win in my mind. He loses when I choose to be open about my struggles and bring them to the Lord and allow my friends and family to pray for me and uplift me.
My story is mine. My story is also one that is too common among my peers and beyond. By the grace of God I became healthy without going to rehab, but that's not the case for others. Rehab and therapy are incredible outlets that I don't think we should see as taboo anymore. If you or someone you know is struggling to the point that they might need professional help, GO GET THAT HELP. There is no shame in wanting to get well! It is the truth that will set you free, so being truthful about your struggle is the first step to wellness. There is no reason why you should feel alone any more. You're not alone. Your struggles aren't minimized either just because you didn't go to rehab or don't necessarily need professional help. My story and struggle isn't fake or invalid just because I didn't get professional help. My story is mine, and I want to use it to help other men and women break free from this disease. Help and healing is possible. You aren't alone.
It's time we start preaching being HEALTHY instead of skinny. You are more than a number on a scale or a photoshopped picture in a magazine. You're alive and breathing today, and it's time to talk about getting healthy for good. If you need help, here is a link to a website where help is available. Don't let this disease keep you quiet any longer. You are victorious.
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
Photo by PhotoByJoy
"And on purpose, I choose you."
That's exactly the truth with Tyka and Landon. They love each other and choose each other with such a selfless, fun, and pure love. It's quite the rarity to see a relationship like this. I'm eternally grateful this couple drove me into the New Mexican mountains in Ruidoso and let me stay in their cozy family cabin with fun friends and electric blankets. Also, Tyka made an incredible drink called Glug. It's definitely a recipe I will keep around for the winter days in the future.
Enjoy this sweetness. I can't wait for August with these two!
Love is so unique. It can be found in a moments time or something aged like love that began in the 7th grade. Kamran and Tate have the latter. Their love began early in life and withstood the test of time.
I shot their timeless, sweet, classic wedding in the Houston summer with their closest friends and their family. They married in a beautiful church and then danced the rest of the day away at a gorgeous renovated former train station. Seeing these two families become one after long awaited anticipation was beautiful. Everyone was hugging and laughing and talking of old memories. It was a celebration of life, love, and the Lord's faithfulness through a patient couple. To see the Lord's blessings come to fruition after a long time of waiting is truly something to marvel at. I hope you can appreciate this day like I did.
Through my studies at Tech, I've learned so much about photography. I've spent extensive hours in the darkroom developing film and making my own prints. I've learned studio lighting as well as ambient lighting. I've worked many different kinds of film cameras from 35mm to large format. ALL of the countless hours and money spent to learn this beautiful art has been worth it. I am a different person now because of my studies. But I am so eager to learn more. I never want to "arrive." I will always be a perpetual student.
No more words; I pray my images speak for themselves. Here is "Peace Just Below" my senior Fine Art Photography final project shot digital with ambient light and flash.
