Weddings feel different this year. There seems to be a new tenderness or, perhaps, a new perspective. We have all changed throughout these past two years, there is no question about that. For me, that new perspective is in part from becoming a mother, and some of it is because of the ways the pandemic has shifted our lives.
Everything feels heightened. Every hug, every laugh, every heartfelt moment carries a new weight to it. Now while creating photographs I think about the images I want my son to see of his childhood, of his family members. I carry the knowledge that photographs are often the first thing we turn to when we have lost a loved one. I’ve dug through old images more than once this past year. Photos are important to us, not just because of what they show us, but because of what they remind us of. They are a part of the testimony of how our loved ones have held and supported us, even amidst periods of uncertainty.
Bess and Charles’ day was filled with laughter, hugs, and an intimacy that I felt welcomed right into. Bess’ dad brought out old photographs during dinner, and I teared up watching him share them with other guests. Images of his beloved granddaughter, of family members no longer here, memories of years long gone: all photographs he carries with him daily. What an immense honor it is to be hired to capture these lasting memories.
The story of how I ended up photographing this day was bizarre, and I am grateful for the things that brought us together. A big thanks to Kayla Dionne for linking me with this couple; these images were shot for Kay Marie Photography.
