Kristina Gaines Photography

 I am excited to share a preview of JJ and Amy’s surprise proposal and wedding. Thank you to my second shooter Samantha Baker for all of her help! Some of these photos are hers and I love her creative perspective!  If you are a KGP friend on Facebook, you might have seen Amy’s story of the day through her eyes.If not here it is again:

“October 7, 2012 started bright and early at 5:30 AM. JJ and I were running in the Spirit of Survival half marathon in Lawton Oklahoma. This was our third half marathon Together this year. The day was cold and misting rain. But just as the race started the rain stopped. I was Enjoying our run- Running with my running buddy, What could be better? (Little did I know what the rest of the day would bring!) We finished the race, Got warmed up and headed back to Oklahoma City. We had a interview/ photo shoot with the Sports and Fitness magazine (or so I thought!)

We put on our brand new running outfits (I thought it was a little odd that JJ wanted to buy something new and matching for the photo shoot) And headed to south lakes park. It started raining again. We met with the photographer and videographer and shot a few action pictures of us running. Then we went under a Pavilion to do the interview because the rain was starting to pick up. All miked up and with camera rolling the videographer ask JJ one question: how did you two meet? JJ answer eloquently (after all he does have TV commercial Experience!) And I was relieved that it look like I wasn’t going to have to say anything on camera. Then JJ dropped to one knee, pulled a box out of his pocket and asked me to marry him!! Of course I immediately said YES!! I had been waiting for this day for what seemed like forever, But was not expecting him to pop the question THAT day. He then told me he had one more surprise and we had to go get in the car. He drove us about a quarter-mile to Southlakes Park Event Center. There were quite a few cars parked out front and I was guessing that it was an engagement party. As we walked up to the entrance, JJ stop me, Turned me to look at him, and told me that we were getting married!! I couldn’t believe it! I must’ve looked shocked because he said to me “I have it all under control”. All of a sudden I was excited and overwhelmed. He repeated “I have it all under control” and I remember saying “Okay”. At that point, I think my brain froze. I had forgotten about all the cars parked out front and as we walked into the building, I was expecting to see our immediate family only- Children, parents, siblings, and nieces. We had talked about planning a small intimate wedding with our immediate family in December. As we rounded the corner, about 125 people started clapping!! I was dazed, amazed, and so very very happy! How JJ pulled off a surprise engagement/wedding I will never know. All of the details were perfect. Everything planned out. Two of my girlfriends, my mom, and my soon-to-be sister-in-law took me to the bathroom where My “wedding dress”was waiting for me- a white Adidas running jacket and pants with silver stripes down the arms and legs. He even bought me a veil. There was a gorgeous bouquet of purple, blue and white flowers representing our children’s birthstone colors and the union of our family. I had something new (white running suit), Something old (necklace from my great great grandmother), Something borrowed (A pearl bracelet from Erica), And something blue (a pair of blue lace panties). With a quick application of lipgloss (thank you Christy) I was ready to walk down the aisle. The music started – “Marry Me” by Train, and JJ and I walked arm in arm to stand in front of our pastor, Buck Schafer. The rest of the ceremony and the evening is kind of a euphoric blur to me… I hugged, talked with and laughed with family and friends. I found out how long everyone else had known about my engagement /wedding. I found out that The Sports and Fitness magazine photographer and videographer were actually a wedding photographer and videographer. I know I had the best evening of my life. Amazing enough- the rain stopped just as we headed outside for pictures- twice in one day that God stopped the rain for us. I feel like that was God smiling down on the union of our families.
That is the story of my wedding day, as I remember it.
I am so honored and proud to be Mrs. JJ Woodie!”

The running shot that I had them do as part of their photo shoot for the magazine Amy thought I was with. If you look closely, you can see the rain start to come down.

The videographer asked JJ “So, how did you two start running together?”. Here is JJ giving his answer….that quickly turned into a proposal.

Of course, she said YES! Afterwards, JJ stood up and told Amy he had somewhere to take her and that they needed to go to the car. (You can see the rain coming down pretty hard at this point)

We stopped right outside the recreation center where JJ told Amy that they were going to get married right then and there. I LOVE her reaction.

She was wisked to the bathroom where she changed into her wedding gear (a white adidas track suit that JJ got for her) and tried to let it soak it in.

Her family and friends made sure that she had her something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. The photo below is a box of jewelry from which she chose to wear her great-grandmothers necklace.

I love her face right when the ceremony was about to start.

It poured all through the ceremony and then right when it was over, we had the most gorgeous sunset.

Amy’s bouquet was designed to reflect her and JJ’s new family including their 4 children. Each type of flower represents their children’s birthstones and 6 rhinestones were added to represent their new family. It was incredibly thoughtful.

The attention to detail that JJ and (wedding coordinator) Jana Portell had was amazing. They even had cute little cups made with their wedding date and a couple running into the sunset.

JJ chose bands for both himself and Amy. He did a great job.

Again, such a perfect touch of detail. Their cupcakes were such a great representation of the two of them complete with little running shoes.

Then, the party started! Their guests (all dressed in athletic gear) enjoyed a night of great food thanks to Alfredo’s and dancing!

Congratulations again JJ and Amy!

XO,

Kristina