I couldnt have been more thrilled to take a second trip down
to Great Falls to photograph the wedding of Andi and Caesar Sollami. The wedding ceremony was held at The Historic
Milwaukee Station on 1st Avenue North. A
beautiful Great Falls wedding venue with a wonderful little coutyard, lawn and
large shade trees around the river side of the building. I’d love to photograph another wedding here
some day.
Andi and Caesar are an amazing couple with an incredible
story of faith and love. They were one
of the couples whos love story made it into the final three in the 2012 Free
Wedding Package Giveaway. Having read
the story I felt like I knew them so well before we ever met. I’ve included their story for you to read
after the photos. Congratulations Andi
and Caesar!
Their Love Story:
Thinking back now on how it all began, I have come to the
conclusion that test taking, ballots, and questionnaires leave me with a
feeling of nervousness. Whether it’s to ace a Calculus exam, vote for a new
president, or answering questions to find the love of your life, everything has
a purpose. Filling out my EHarmony questionnaire caused me to revisit those
same emotions. Although my answers were well thought out, I had to think twice
about my final response. There was no right or wrong answer, and I wanted to be
honest with myself. I knew that this could potentially change my life, and that
it did!
Caesar and I were matched on E-Harmony’s “29 Levels of
Capability.” It’s a scientific process, I suppose; to me, it felt more like
Chemistry. The questionnaire was very long and because I wanted to do it
perfectly, it was tedious. If I would have known then that answering all those
questions would lead me to such an amazing man, I’d still be filling in the
blanks!
Caesar and I started emailing each other in April of 2010.
We discovered that we were miles apart geographically…he, a military man based
in Alabama and me, a respiratory therapist living in Washington state. Having
been raised in a military town, I always told my family I would never date or
marry someone with that career… it seemed too dangerous, too difficult for
family left behind. Those thoughts were melting into nothingness as I learned
more and more about Caesar. He seemed so warm and caring; I was finding it hard
to resist picking up my phone and calling him. So I set up a date, not with
Caesar, but with someone else. I couldn’t get Caesar out of my mind as I drove
to meet my blind date in Seattle. On my way, I decided to call him for the
first time. I was so nervous, and my body flooded with butterflies as I started
talking with this sexy-sounding man. Over two hours flew by, and not once was
there a break in conversation! He was so easy to talk with. By that time, I
realized that I was late, very late, for my blind date. Oh, how I wanted it to
be over with before it even started so I could call Caesar again! For the next
month and a half, Caesar and I spent at least three hours a night on the phone,
but usually longer, finding out just how much we truly had in common.
June 12, 2010, was the first time we set eyes on one
another. We booked tickets to meet somewhere neither of us had ever been to
before…San Diego! After the plane landed, I stood in the crowded airport trying
to spot him from the pictures he had sent to me. My phone rang, and it was
Caesar, saying that he was running late because of traffic. Little did I know
he was standing right behind me! As I grabbed my luggage, I felt someone grab
my other hand. I turned around and my heart lit up when I realized it was
Caesar! His brown eyes were as warm as his smile. As he gently pulled me
towards him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and we shared our first kiss.
Even though we were surrounded by crowds of people, it felt like Caesar and I
were the only ones in the room…I didn’t want that moment to end! Before our
weekend together ended, Caesar and I sat together on the beach as the sun was
setting. Talking and laughing about how everything seemed to fall into place,
Caesar leaned in and softly kissed me! He said to me, “I would have told you
this before I met you, because I knew it then, but I love you!” I told him I
knew I was in love with him before I even met him! He was the man I have been
waiting for all this time!
For the next two months, we started using Skype (thank God
for that!) In August, Caesar came to Montana to meet my family for the first
time. Through many games of Yahtzee, family dinners and fishing trips to Holter
Lake, my family was finally able to get to know this amazing man I fell in love
with. I remember him reeling in his first fish, he was saying, “this feels
really heavy; I think it’s a big on!” That fish topped the scale at less than 1
pound! And I’ll never forget when we ordered pizza for dinner. Caesar got a
little carried away with the crushed red pepper flakes on his slices. As he was
rubbing his dribbling nose he commented, “These things give me the runs.” He
didn’t realize at that moment what he had said, but it was too late, my Mom and
I laughed and laughed. Caesar kept our spirits high every day, and it brought
me to tears seeing how much my family adored him.
In October, I flew down to Alabama to meet Caesar’s family.
He was a bit nervous about me meeting who he called his “crazy” family, and he
felt that it was only right that he warn me about them. He said he was hoping
they wouldn’t scare me away. Caesar’s dad, an ex-war veteran, is one of the
crankiest, most stubborn and difficult men I’ve ever met. I read between the
lines however, and discovered that teasing him brought out his true heart and
by day’s end, I absolutely adored him. Caesar was thoroughly amazed at how
quickly his family warmed up to me and after a few short days, they already
felt like a part of my family! To this day, I talk with Caesar’s dad at least
three times a week on the phone.
When it was Christmas, Caesar came to Montana to spend the
holidays with my family. He cut down his very first Christmas tree, built his
first snow man, and went sledding for the first time. Seeing him smile from ear
to ear melted my heart, and made me fall in love with him all over again. I
felt so incredibly blessed to experience these “firsts” with him, and to see
him so happy before he left on deployment!
In February of 2011, Caesar deployed to Afghanistan with the
Army as a military policeman. This is the first, but not last, deployment that
we have spent together! God has blessed Caesar with such an amazing gift in the
work he does overseas! I am so proud of him! This has been one of the hardest
things we have accomplished in our relationship. Learning to completely put my
trust in God to protect the man I am going to spend my life with has been
overwhelming at times! One thing I have realized after a year of him being gone
is that our love endures and is faithful, even though the distance between us
is great. I am thankful to say that he will be home in December!
I have found that incredible man I’ve been praying for all
these years! I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with someone who is so
giving, kind-hearted, and patient. Caesar is truly a blessing to me and my
family, and I thank God every day for hand picking someone like him for me. His
family is already a huge part in my life, and I couldn’t ask for a better
addition to my extended family. I am grateful for the love Caesar has shown me
over such a short time, especially with the few days we have spent together
face-to-face. I am in LOVE! And in less than 7 months I will be marrying this
amazing man God has blessed me with… my best friend. I couldn’t be happier!
