Over the last several years, golf has taken me to some pretty sweet ass places. From the cliffs of Old Head in Ireland to the crashing waves of Cypress Point in California, this golfer has gotten around. Even though I have been spoiled rotten with the destinations, it is the people that have been the magic ingredient. One of those people that brought the magic has been Kenzie O’Connell.
The first time that I meant Kenzie O Connell was at a Starbucks in the Calgary airport. She was ordering some sort of advanced triple macchiato with double iced espresso beans, with zero fat and zero calories. “Oh lord, here we go,” I remember muttering in my head. It’s a good thing that I didn’t say those words out loud as I would have been forced to eat them several days later. As it turns out, my new friend Kenzie O’Connell was the real deal.
My second favorite shot of Kenzie from our Canadian Rockies trip
My favorite shot of Kenzie from our Canadian Rockies trip.
Countless adventures and golf trips later, Kenzie was scheduled to arrive at the altar with the man of her dreams, Jimmy. I was selected as the photographer of choice and the destination of choice was Bandon Dunes. It was a real best in class type situation. If anything, the photographer was the weak link.
I warned Kenzie that this was my first official wedding shoot and that all of her wedding photos were going to turn out blurry and overexposed. She paid little attention to my pleas and paid me anyways. The pressure was on and I needed to deliver. Fortunately, I didn’t have to jump right into '“capturing the magic of love” right away, I had time to warm up with a practice round at Bandon Preserve. Nothing warms up a camera lens faster than Bandon Preserve.
Jimmy, the groom, hits one in tight on #6
#7 on Bandon Preserve with Bandon Dunes in the distance
Looking back on 17 at Bandon Dunes from #11 on Bandon Preserve
When I first met Kenzie, she couldn’t high kick past her knee.
Devastation over a short missed putt for birdie on #5.
The emotion of the missed putt strikes the faces of the wedding crew.
There a few things as satisfying as the sun setting over Bandon Dunes.
With the warmup photo session and golf complete at Bandon Preserve, it was time for Jimmy and Kenzie’s big day. First up, I was tasked with photographing the ‘getting ready phase.’ This phase can last anywhere from 1 to 17 hours and involves a lot of high stakes hair fixing, makeup, and garment arranging. I just tried to get out of the way as the girls rushed to meet their deadline.
Keeping with the golf theme Jimmy’s groomsmen and best man were outfitted in caddie attire.
With 4 wedding caddies and just 1 groom, Jimmy was fully prepared for success at the ceremony.
Jimmy and Kenzie decided to drive one into the Pacific to finalize their wedding vows to each other.
Jimmy was excited to marry Kenzie.
Some of the most boss bridesmaids that I have ever seen.
Kenzie did not actually hit this golf ball off of her brother’s face. Golfing in a wedding dress is hard.
After Jimmy and Kenzie were officially married, it was time to head to the reception. That reception was held at Bandon Dunes’ Punch Bowl. The 100,000 square foot putting surface was the perfect place to have some drinks and celebrate two great people and families joining their lives together. There was also a fierce putting duel, in which Jimmy The Groom emerged victorious. I am not gonna say everyone let him win… but everyone let him win.
Probably talking joint banking accounts and mutual funds.
Jimmy’s father and best man exudes confidence and joy.
Easily in my top 5 wedding photos. Kenzie did not know that I was taking this picture. She is legitimately angry about her new husband beating her at golf.
Nikki B is a talented golfer… but it is just one of her many talents.
My favorite shot out of the 3 million photos I took.
After the sun went down on an amazing day, we didn’t just give up and go to sleep. We grabbed our golf clubs and headed out for some golf… Night golf that is.
The staff at Bandon Dunes provided all of the night golf supplies that we needed. They set up the course, provided the glow balls (Glow V1’s) and even had the staff walk with us to make sure we didn’t get lost. All that was required of us was to show up with our clubs once it got nice and dark.
Anyone can set up night golf if you have a group of 8 or more. Just inquire when booking. The routing is holes 1,2,3, and then you play back into the Bandon Dunes main clubhouse on the 9th hole.
The staff even left a special glow in the dark message for Jimmy and Kenzie.
Like a true Bandon bride and groom, Jimmy and Kenzie decided to wake up the next morning and play more golf. The agenda for the following day… more golf. It was a true Bandon Dunes honeymoon, or maybe we just call it a Bandon Honeydunes.
I take this picture every time that I arrive on the 6th tee box at Bandon Dunes, it’s always wonderfully different looking back down the 5th fairway.
Tisha Alyn deals with one of the newly renovated bunkers on #9 at Bandon Dunes.
Since this was the first time playing Bandon Dunes for Nikki, Chelsea, and Tisha, I played the role of Golf Tour Guide. Golf Tour Guide is great because you get to tell all of your old stories and feel real important and knowledgable.
Nikki, Chelsea, and Tisha stroll hard on the 16th at Bandon Dunes.
The view looking towards the green on the 6th tee box at Bandon Dunes.
The gorse (bottom left) blooms twice a year at Bandon.
the 11th hole at Pacific Dunes is a popular selection for favorite golf hole at Bandon.
Although I knew it was going to be a special weekend, I couldn’t have imagined the outpouring of joy and love from this fantastic group of friends and family. Here’s to a long and fulfilling life together for the new bride and groom. Golf and love on!
