Savannah and Gary’s love story began in the most unexpected of places – at funerals that would ultimately become the backdrop of their most profound connection. Their first encounter was at Gary’s aunt’s funeral, where a touch of unexpected joy emerged through Savannah’s grandfather, who – battling Alzheimer’s – believed he was at a party and spontaneously started a congo line. This moment of unexpected fun was the only thing that brought a smile to Gary’s face, a moment his aunt would have absolutely loved.
Months later, when Savannah’s grandfather passed away, Gary attended the funeral out of respect. It was there that their paths truly crossed, though they were both in different relationships at the time. Life, however, had other plans.
Six months after their initial meeting, they found themselves both single and unexpectedly reunited. What began as a chance encounter slowly blossomed into something magical. Gary was a dreamer, constantly lost in his imagination, while Savannah was grounded and could transform those wild ideas into reality. She accepted him completely – his hyperactivity, unfocused energy, and all the beautiful complexity that made him who he was.
Their relationship deepened as they explored the world, becoming a unified team of ideas and action. Gary was captivated by Savannah’s authenticity – her ability to be fully herself in every moment, whether happy, crazy, or completely focused. She wasn’t trying to be anything other than who she was, and that genuineness drew Gary to her like a magnet.
Their connection was so organic that it felt almost predestined, especially when they discovered the adorable twist that Bella (presumably their dog) had played matchmaker, introducing Gary to his best friend, who then introduced him to Savannah.
The Proposal:
The proposal was quintessentially them – intimate, personal, and slightly spontaneous. On a summer Friday, Gary convinced Savannah to walk on the Ben Franklin Bridge. Halfway across, straddling the state line, he got down on one knee.
In a beautifully unconventional moment, he first asked her to be his girlfriend (something he’d never done in their six years together) before asking her to be his wife. Their beloved dog was present, making the moment even more special.
As they approach their wedding day, they’re both filled with anticipation-Savannah is excited to see Gary waiting for her at the altar, and Gary is most looking forward to seeing her pure, childlike joy when Mariah Carey plays, fulfilling a long-held wedding dream.
Here are our favorites from their elegant Globe Dye Works wedding beautifully captured by Ralph Deal Photography.
Getting Ready
Bride and Groom
Globe Dye Works Wedding Ceremony
Globe Dye Works Wedding Reception
>>–VENDOR–<<
Reception:
Globe Dye Works | Dress:
ÉLYSÉE ATELIER | Grooms Suit: Custom Tux from LR2 | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Cake:
The Night Kitchen | Music:
SCE Events | Hair & Make-up:
MU8 | Florist:
NE Flower Boutique | Videographer:
For Fearless Hearts | Wedding Planner:
Taylor Emily Events
Let’s Talk About Your Wedding!
“I highly recommend hiring Ralph Deal as your wedding photographer! Our pictures turned out beautifully and we got all of the shots that we wanted. Ralph was such a great communicator leading up to the wedding. We had several meetings to discuss what we wanted for our wedding, which was extremely helpful. Ralph wanted to know every detail about us and the wedding day and was very thorough. I especially recommend Ralph because he made the day run so smoothly. Because my fiancée and I didn’t want to do a first look, we had a very tight amount of time to get our pictures taken in.
Ralph was so good at directing us, our bridal party, and our families so he could quickly get the perfect shots. We spent the 2 hours between the mass ending and the reception starting getting all of the photos we wanted. Ralph was so efficient that we didn’t miss 1 minute of our cocktail hour! Ralph is not only a great photographer, but a nice and fun person to work with. I feel like we got to know Ralph and he got to know us. It was so nice working with someone who made us feel so comfortable.
And like I said, our pictures are absolutely gorgeous.
I’m so glad we had Ralph as our photographer to capture our day!”
-Grace Abbott
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