Christina & Mike
All my future bride’s can rest easy now because Christina and Mike broke the curse.
Before this wedding, every… single… time… that I’ve shot at the Cathedral of Christ the King it has rained. But no longer.
If you pay attention you might recognize the bride since she’s been on this blog a couple times, for their engagement session but usually as my assistant, who I’ve missed dearly since she left to pursue what she’s been trained to do. For the last year or so she’s been traveling the country with the theater production of The Lion King as the on-staff physical therapist. But now that she’s married, she’s back in Atlanta and can start helping me out again. You have no idea how stoked I am. But I know my time is limited because I imagine that she’ll be pregnant any day now if she gets her way.
Did I mention that she’s the youngest of 11 kids? But she’ll probably limit herself to 8 or 10. Moderation ya know.
Then there’s Mike, the groom. Mike, my friend, endeavor to deserve Christina because there’s no man on earth that does. I look forward to getting to know you better and maybe you two can pop out a few girls that are about the right age for my boys?
A few notes about the images…. Christina and Mike and their families are about as Catholic as the Pope. You’ll notice a rosary crucifix on Christina’s bouquet… engraved on the back is the date (in 1975) it was given to her oldest sister on her confirmation day and who later entered the convent (they see her once a year). She and all her sisters were wearing scapulars…it looks like a string necklace with cloth squares that hang in the front and the back. There are two priests that figure prominently on the images… one has been battling leukemia for a while now and the other is getting ready to serve as a military chaplain in the middle east. They are both priests in the Archdiocese of Atlanta and they are both her brothers. And then there’s Mike’s father who you see at the altar… he’s a deacon. We were joking that no respectable hispanic family is without a deacon or priest. And last, there were about a million kids…. when I first met Christina[’s family], she was 12, and there were no nephews or nieces yet. I think the numbers had increased by the end of the reception, but that could be my imagination.
My friend and trusty second photographer Huy Cat was happy to see Christina and again, my trusty assistant Brian Steele rocked.
Remember that you can view the slideshow full-screen by clicking the last icon on the bottom right.
Enjoy!
Ben Vigil, shooting saints

September 22nd, 2008 at 9:33 am
Yay! Christina, you look beautiful. Congrats! Love the portraits at the end.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Ben, I noticed your note at the bottom of the slide show… “Ben Vigil, shooting saints” How incredibly true! And I do dare say that equal to their sainthood is your work. Amazing. Amazing and WONDERFUL people photographed spectacularly! As a friend of Christina’s, thanks!
September 26th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Congratulations Christina and Mike! God bless you and your marriage. Ben, the photo of C & M laying down in the grass is utterly original. I love it. Doesn’t hurt to have such gorgeous subjects!
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
ben!!!!
just- ben!!!!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 11:06 am
WOW!!!! Incredible photography and such a beautiful wedding! So good to see Peeks I haven’t seen in years(Hi Kathy) and to see Fr. Kevin dancing with you Christina made me laugh and cry at the same time. Your husband must be a very holy and wonderful man to have won your heart. May God richly bless your marriage with all the gifts and graces He has in store for those who love and honor Him as you did in this sacrament.
(your friend Lisa O. sent me the link, I’m so glad she did)
October 10th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Thank you all for being a prayerful part of our wedding. Ben….. you capture so much more than even i could see and plan for
THANK YOU!
mike is truly a wonderful spouse in pushing me up the ladder,
i am striving to be the same for him. keep us in your prayers!
and anne shea…. mother to the wonderful shea family? i need your email
In HIM