Kayla & Thomas
Storyteller: Kayla Giles-Hodge, USA
Love stories often start unexpectedly, sometimes blossoming from those you already care so much about. For Thomas and Kayla, what started as a close friendship built on shared homework and quick meals quickly blossomed into something deeper, catching them both by surprise. Their journey from friends to life partners culminates into a contemporary, intimate wedding preserved in a timeless wedding photo book. Discover the love story that inspired the creation of their perfect wedding keepsake.
When did your love story begin?
Thomas and I met in college and quickly became close friends. He would do my homework and I would pay him in food since we were classic broke college students. We shared a lot of mutual friends and always enjoyed each other’s company. This was truly a love neither of us ever saw coming because we were the best of friends. We even have a funny story of us going on a double date with other people and laughing at how terrible our dates were after. It wasn't until after college we realized our friendship was blossoming into something more.
How would you describe the style of your wedding?
Timeless and bold. I loved the simplicity of a black and white color scheme. When we asked our guests to wear all black, we got a few side-eyes, especially from the moms! But we got so many compliments on the beautiful arrangements and how they complemented our wedding theme so well. I am also a huge gardener, so I wanted to go bold with flowers. Our wedding took place at sunset during golden hour and the flowers really were the star of the show - aside from us of course.
What format did you choose for your keepsake, and why?
We absolutely loved our wedding photos, and I knew I wanted to create a keepsake for them that was easily accessible in our home. I found MILK Books and loved how they didn't look like the traditional wedding photo albums but offered a more modern feel. I then decided to create a Premium Photo Book and gift it to my husband for our one-year anniversary so we could look at it on the day of and re-experience every moment again.
What is your favorite story behind a single shot in the book?
My favorite story behind our photos is from our first look. I was so anxious leading up to the wedding about sharing our private vows in front of our guests because I felt I was going to bawl my eyes out and not be able to get my words out or truly express how I feel. So, a few days before the wedding we made the game time decision to have a first look and I'm so glad we did. We were able to laugh, cry and truly be our authentic selves with each other and it was so beautiful.
What does your wedding photo book mean to you and loved ones?
Our wedding was the start of the best part of our lives: being married. We put so much time, effort and intention into one day. A day that goes by so quickly, and all you have left is your memories. That is why our photo book is so special to us. Having a physical representation of that day and being able to look back on it and see the first day of the rest of our lives as husband and wife. We’re now able to pass this on to our future children and look back at it 40 years from now. It's become a timeless possession.
What was the best moment of your wedding day?
I went a little non-traditional with our wedding ceremony as we had cocktail hour before the wedding, private vows during our first look, and a private dinner with just me and my hubby after the ceremony. I really wanted to make sure we had time to take in the moment and be present with just the two of us on our special day. All these intimate moments are most precious to me, but if I had to pick one, I would probably say our last dance with just the two of us on the dance floor. We love the Bee Gees and picked a fun song to dance to. It was the perfect ending.
What is your favorite image from your wedding day?
I have two! One being the picture of us feeding each other cake, and the second would be us under our neon sign "Club Hodge". These are such fun photos, and they accurately represent our personalities.
What bit of advice would you offer to someone creating their own MILK memento?
I would encourage someone to tell a story with their MILK memento, whatever the occasion is.
With each carefully curated detail, from the timeless black and white theme to the vibrant floral arrangements, Kayla and Thomas planned a celebration that perfectly reflected their personalities and love story. Their MILK Photo Book now stands as a cherished possession, encompassing some of the most important moments of their wedding milestone. Years on from now, they can look back to the memories of the emotional pre-wedding first look, their dance to the Bee Gees, and many more. Be inspired to create your own representation of a beginning that turned into forever. Compare our range to find the best format for your unique love story.
