This summer has been full of curveballs for nearlyweds. Despite the obstacles, love finds a way, even if it wasn’t the original plan! Lily & Roland had initially contacted me about their big Farmers Market celebration, but I was booked for their date. But when COVID hit, many of the bigger weddings I had planned to document were postponed to next year, so my schedule freed up and I was able to document their intimate celebration in Roland’s parents’ spectacular backyard gardens (lake view included!) with their parents and some siblings.
This summer has flipped the “traditional” upside down, and given everyone a reason to really contemplate what’s important about their wedding day. For some, it’s the date. (“No way are we rescheduling, we’ll just elope!”) For others, it’s the spirituality or custom of the ceremony, religious or secular. For others, it’s the gathering– the big celebration of all of the family and friends. (We’ll see those couples next summer…) And for many, it’s some complicated combination of these, and other, factors.
I have a secret hope that this impact lives on, and from here on out couples really dive deep into their wants and needs, and prioritize their own desires over the “shoulds”.
Though I shouldn’t be surprised, it kind of boggles my mind that the photos I created in these two hours with Lily and Roland feel like a complete story, while two hours documenting another couple’s celebration could feel woefully incomplete. This also just confirms my belief that I never want to offer fixed wedding packages… the story of your day can be completely told in an hour, or it may take 10! It all depends on what you have planned, and what’s important to you.
