Wedding Photography

It was the second go around in more ways than one for Angel & Thomas Berry, when they renewed Wedding Photography vows under a clear sky at Calabash Cove. “I’m just so glad that we were able to have a remarriage ceremony,” says Tom, who initially married Angel in August 2007. “We both had a great time and we are just looking forward.”
This marriage is the second for both Angel and Tom who is 50. They each also have two grown children from their previous relationships.
“I had a really long list of demands,” says Angel, who was in an abusive marriage. But, she says, “He was the right one for me.”
Owner of an employment agency in New Jersey, Angel’s Domestics, the 37-year-old met her match online. “I went on Craigslist. Yep. The heading was something like, ‘Single black female, in search of soul mate’, and Tom Responded.”

50-year-old Tom, a consultant for Accenture, says, “She sounded intriguing. We wound up talking and really hit it off.” That was in July ’06. They met face to face that October and Thomas made an immediate impact. “I was really impressed when I walked up the stairs and he was standing there with flowers,” recalls Angel.
Tom felt from having spoken on the phone many times that they clicked on many levels and says, “I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. I was hoping she would appreciate the flowers and sounds like it really did the trick.”
“I fell in love with her from the first time we met. There was a definite attraction from the start and she really exceeded my expectations..”
While Angel lived and worked in Brooklyn and Tom lived in New Jersey and worked in Manhattan their courtship was almost international; from a first date in little Italy, to the engagement in a Turkish restaurant on Angel’s birthday in April 2007.

We really enjoyed this Turkish restaurant in a trendy part of Brooklyn, off Court Street,” explains Tom. “I called up the owner of the restaurant and made arrangements to set us up at a nice window spot and to prepare some special things for us and they were very happy to oblige. When we got to the restaurant, I gave Angel’s camera to the owner with instructions to come over at a specific time. When the time came I pulled the ring box out of my pocket and as I asked her to marry me he started snapping some pictures. She was kinda startled but it was great. She said yes; all the people around were clapping; the owner was happy, saying ‘it’s the first time someone proposed in my restaurant’.”
The wedding however, did not quite meet their expectations as the photographer made a mess of the photos. The Berrys decided a redo was in order and they wanted to capture every bright moment.
“When I saw what Bill Mortley offered,” Tom says, “It was impressive. His super creative site detailed a lot of history; The creative edge was definitely there.”
Angel adds, “Before we came across Bill’s website we saw someone else with whom we made a deposit, but after talking to him it felt like he was the right person to do our photos and we canceled the other person.”
They arrived in Saint Lucia to two days of rain but amazingly the sky cleared for their wedding. The only hitch, “I’m not an afternoon person,” moans Angel but she confesses to totally enjoying every minute, as did Tom.
I’m happy that Bill recommended the Resort for us,” he says. “Calabash Cove in Marisule, did a magnificent job. They set up this beautiful archway of flowers for us on a pier that was designated as the wedding ceremony site. The Wedding Photography coordinator handled everything just right. The ceremony was nice and simple and everything went off without a hitch.”
Further, says Angel, “We love it here. I’m a very private person so I like that it’s not too crowded, the music is not too loud. We wanted something private and we have the swim-up pool and the little bar right there. I’m very satisfied with the service especially from Shari, she’s been very helpful.”
The new start is refreshing on a deeper level for Tom and Angel, whose love has been sorely tested.
“I have a lot of friends who didn’t believe we would survive. When we got engaged they said a lot of bad things,” says Angel. “When I was moving out of Brooklyn to New Jersey, a lot of people didn’t accept the relationship but I didn’t care what people felt. Tom has been very good to myself and my kids.”

The most important people, her mom and step-dad, whom Tom traveled to meet in 2006, accepts the relationship.
For the most part Tom says his family are also accepting. “Twenty years ago my Christian brother Bob married a Jewish girl and that was a big deal; so in context my mother was accepting. My father, who was much more conservative has passed away. Friends of mine expressed some reservations but we knew that we were right for each other.”
The Berrys have not only learnt to deal with the prejudice but are turning it on it’s head. “We get a charge walking around hand in hand. We’re a little more different than most inter-racial couples; usually it’s a black guy with a white woman; also we have the age difference. I like the looks we get from people. I like when people do a double take.”
Angel has tired of trying to stay in touch with the friends who blew her off and accepts, as Tom does that, “As you mature, your relationships mature and change. While there are people that you no longer communicate with, you are constantly meeting new friends.”
They also have lots of new things to enjoy, like sharing each others passions, such as fishing and crabbing.
In that they are also learning the importance of communication. Says Tom, “You need to be able to say what’s on your mind. I know I can always say anything I feel to her.”
“The bottom line is that I always get the final word,” laughs Angel. Tom joins in the laughter and adds, “I love everything about her…and she’s always right.”