{In the words of Rachel Zoe, I die.}

No, seriously. When it comes to photographers, I tend to be highly critical. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a close friend who is a professional photographer (the same friend who just so happened to do our engagement photos as a fabulous wedding present for us!), and for the most part, I would consider myself extremely biased against any photographer who is not the fabulous Apryl Murphy!

But when it comes to Cayman Island photography, there is only one name that is synonymous with sheer perfection, and that, my friends, is “Courtney Platt.”

{Photo Source}

Over and over again, both on and off the island, I have heard this name tossed about. And over and over again I was reminded that his work has won numerous awards. On top of that, his work has been featured in National Geographic magazine more times than I can count, and his Post-Ivan account of the Hurricane-ravished Cayman Islands (Paradise Interrupted) is a book that I have spent countless hours admiring. Please believe me when I tell you that it takes a lot to impress me, and it takes even more for me to literally swoon. And Courtney Platt definitely has me (along with the vast majority of the inhabitants of the Cayman Islands) swooning.

{Please allow me to have a brief moment to regain my composure so that I can tell the story of how I came to know and love the ever so incredible (world-renowned) Courtney Platt. And, more importantly, how the same ever so incredible (world-renowned) Courtney Platt came to shoot my wedding.}

Ahem.

As most of you know, I have a personal blog (here) for which I try to write regularly. Although I initially began it out of sheer boredom, I quickly leaned that it was the perfect outlet for creative expression and accountability. There, I talk about everything. Literally, nothing is off limits. It’s kind of like an online diary, if you will. Except it isn’t tucked away neatly under my pillow. Instead, it’s proudly displayed for the entire world to see. (I am sure many of you who also author your own personal blogs understand exactly what I am talking about. And for those of you who don’t, I encourage you to do so! You seriously wouldn’t believe how incredibly liberating it is.)

Anyway.

Fortunately (and surprisingly) I have met quite a few friends through my little corner of the blogosphere. Google has a feature that allows friends to connect and blogs to be followed. And let’s face it — who doesn’t like to be followed?!

Approximately a month ago, I noticed that I had a new “blog follower” who went by the name of Courtney Platt. Surely, I thought, this couldn’t possibly be the same Courtney Platt that had traveled the world taking both under and above-water photos for the last quarter-century. Certainly this was not the famous Courtney Platt who was a published author and artist and of whom Caymanians spoke most highly. There’s no way THAT Courtney Platt would follow this little Alabama-born, Nashville-bred girl’s blog, right?!

Umm, wrong.

After a few twists of fate and a string of luck, I realize that it is THE one and only Courtney Platt, and then I proceed to shamelessly stalk carefully review his work. And, after spending hours on his website and wiping the drool from my macbook keyboard, I realized that I was in love. But, being the frugal conscientious bride that I am, I didn’t fall to the floor and beg Mr. Platt to photograph my wedding. Instead, I decided that I would wait until I was in Cayman. I’d ask around the island and see what people thought of him and his work and his prices…

Well, let me just tell you right now, from the moment the word “photographer” came out of my mouth, all I heard from just about everyone on the island was “Courtney Platt.” And after a dinner on Thursday night, at which everyone was raving about the underwater work that he had recently done, I decided that my willpower couldn’t hold out any longer — I must email Mr. Platt.

And email, I did. Thursday evening, with DGC on Skype, I jotted out a short little email to Mr. Platt, explaining that I would love for him to shoot my wedding. (Although I wanted to profess my undying love for his work in that email, I decided that I would refrain. Didn’t want to scare him off, you know…) I asked him to contact me so that we could discuss prices, times, suggestions, deposits, etc. And by mid-morning Friday, Mr. Platt had already responded to my email.

Let’s be honest here, I expected his prices to be astronomical. But do you know what?! They weren’t. In fact, I was almost floored when I saw what he charged. He was unbelievably reasonable! Seriously, I thought, this was far. too. good. to be true.

So what’d I do?!

I picked up the phone and called him. From the moment he answered the phone, there was something in his voice that calmed me. He knew exactly what he was talking about, and it was incredibly evident that this “wasn’t his first rodeo,” if you know what I mean. He was so very personable and gracious, and he offered suggestions about everything from ceremony times and photography schedules to PADI certifications and excellent diving locations. And an hour later, I’m proud to say that not only do I think that the world-renowned Courtney Platt is my new BFF, but also to formally announce that Courtney Platt will be shooting my wedding on May 15, 2010!

No, seriously.

I can’t believe it either.

Prior to my wedding planning trip, DGC and I sat down and prioritized the things that were the most important to each of us at the wedding, and both of us agreed that wedding photographs were at the top of the list. We wanted to remember our special day, and just as the old adage goes – a picture is worth 1,000 words.

So when I calledDGC on Friday afternoon and told him that I had booked a wedding photographer, he was more than a little excited. However, I, on the other hand, was a little out of control. I did everything but shout it from the rooftops! You think I’m kidding?! I wish I were! But, alas, I’m so not.

Holy crap! I honestly don’t think I have been more excited about getting my photo taken since class photo day in Mrs. Carmack’s second grade class at Madison Academy. (And even then, it was only because I liked my super cool sweater with black and white kittens on it...)

So there you have it, my friends. The true story of how DGC and I booked our wedding photographer, and the true story behind my perpetual “happy dancing” around the entire island.

And now I ask you — Were you as excited when you booked your photographer/videographer as I was when I booked mine?! Did you “just know”? And if you’re already married, is there anything that you wish you had done differently?