JW Marriott Wedding | Ashley + Jared | Marco Island Wedding Photographer

After a golf outing in September 2020, Jared, his cousin and his buddy met up with his father at an Italian restaurant in Michigan. Ashley and her parents were sitting at the bar having dinner coincidentally next to Jared’s father as he was waiting for a table. Jared and Ashley’s father, Greg, knew each other through work and started talking. Once Jared and the other two arrived, they were introduced and joined in on the conversation with the Harris family. That’s when Ashley caught Jared’s eye. After being seated for dinner, Jared mentioned that he wanted to get Ashley’s phone number. So after a brief pep talk with the guys and a little liquid courage, Jared got up, walked over to the bar where her and her parents were sitting and saw Ashley walking down the hallway. He stopped her and mentioned that he was moving to Royal Oak the following month (where she lived) and asked to grab a drink sometime. After Jared got back from his work trip, he asked Ashley out and they met at Oak City Grille in downtown Royal Oak, MI. And the rest is history! By the way… right before Ashley went to dinner that night, she told her parents that she deleted all of her dating apps and that she was DONE dating.

Jared and Ashley’s first year of dating was far from ordinary. With 2021 being a busy wedding year due to the covid delays from the year prior, Ashley and Jared traveled all over from Arizona to Wisconsin to Georgia and even the Bahamas to celebrate with friends and family. With both of their parents living part time in Florida, they also traveled down to the sunshine state frequently (this is how they chose their wedding location). They got to know each other quickly through these adventures. Both realizing that they could see themselves traveling together for the rest of their lives.

Jared proposed to Ashley on Fort Myers Beach in April of 2022 at the spot they went to each time they visited Florida. Quickly after that they started planning their wedding at the JW Marriott on Marco Island for May of 2023. They both have friends and family that live all over the U.S. and a holiday weekend away with everyone they love is exactly what they wanted to do. Ashley’s vision of a boho chic aesthetic mixed with tropical details was a perfect vibe that represented the two of them along with the location they chose. Ashley wore her dream custom made dress with hand beaded details and Jared stood out from his groomsmen by wearing a copper suit while they wore tan suits. They had the most perfect weather on the beach for their ceremony and the best night of their lives dancing away with all of their closest friends and family to the music by their DJ that traveled all the way from Atlanta to play at their wedding!