Serendipity on 30A: Jan and Clark’s Wedding at Seaside Chapel

As a photographer, I hear a lot of stories about how couples met. It is rare, however, to be part of it before they even get engaged!

A while ago, Jan emailed me to book a portrait session. It was not a wedding inquiry. As she put it: "It is just a formal picture with my favorite photographers ever. Maybe it will be our engagement photos someday.”

That "someday" arrived at record speed.

The Man of the Dreams (and a Surgeon of Grit)

Jan called Clark the man of her dreams, and the world has learned he is also a man of immense grit. Clark is a Milwaukee-based cancer surgeon who spends his days treating the liver and bile duct. He is a survivor himself; after a cancer diagnosis in 2018, he faced a recurrence in 2020.

When Jan and Clark met on a Bumble date in 2019, he was already deep into his journey as a "weekend warrior" marathoner. Jan stood by him through his second surgery, and they prayed together through the uncertainty.

The Whirlwind

By September, Jan reached out with news that felt surreal even to her: "The man of my dreams has asked me to marry him!" Despite recovering from knee surgery two days after the proposal, they planned a full wedding in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for November: just two months later.

Clark, knowing how much photography meant to Jan, made sure booking the date was the first priority. He surprised her with it, knowing the day would not be complete without the work she had followed for years. I would not have missed it.

The Day

The wedding took place along 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, a location that manages to be both upscale and relaxed. The itinerary was perfectly suited to them: less about rigid tradition and more about spending time with their people.

Morning: A "Bottomless Brunch" for the ladies at the Griesbach condo, while Clark hosted a "Special Boy's Beach Brunch" on the sand in front of Sago Sands.
Ceremony: Held at the Seaside Chapel, a stunning, light-filled venue.
The Timeline: Jan and Clark opted to see each other at the aisle rather than doing a first look, meaning we had to be efficient with the daylight remaining after the 3:00 PM ceremony.

Sunset and Bonfires

We exited the chapel to a petal toss and moved immediately into portraits. The light on the Florida coast in November is sharp and fast; we had about 45 minutes from the chapel exit to sunset to capture the family photos, the bridal party, and the couple portraits.

The reception moved to FOOW (Fish Out of Water) for dinner, but the real highlight was the after-party. Instead of a traditional dance floor, guests changed into comfortable clothes and headed to a beach access point for a bonfire.

Under the banner "Let Love Sparkle," the night ended with s'mores, tiki torches, and a "Roots, Rock, Reggae" playlist on the sand. It was a perfect manifestation of Clark's personal mantra for his patients: that they need faith, family, and friendships to get through any journey.

Jan and Clark’s day was a reminder of why I do this. It was about the genuine joy of two people who have stared down life's hardest challenges and realized they did not want to wait another second to celebrate. As Clark says: "the body will do what the mind says it will do". His mind said they were going to have a beautiful life together, and the wedding was just the beginning.