May 1, 2019

AN UNCONVENTIONAL STORY

My traditional posts of weddings include details about the day, stories about the couple, and commentary about the documentation of their love. But this post is different, despite the beautiful wedding photographs.

This post is for you, future brides (and grooms). The anticipation and planning for a wedding is absolutely overwhelming at times. It's a sea of excitement and stress, tied in with the societal pressure of the biggest day of your life and Pinterest worthy photographs, decorations, venues, etc. I give you this piece of advice, stop.

Stop competing, stop fussing, stop fighting. Stop trying to fit into that dress, find the perfect bouquet, order the best chair covers, and stop going crazy over the little details. It's enough. Focus on creating a more beautiful marriage, rather than a beautiful wedding. Sure, those things have some priority and purpose. I am a wedding photographer and I love all the pretty things. I love the unique venues, the stunning dresses, and beautiful bouquets, like the ones displayed here. But what I love more is a bride and groom who are so deeply and madly in love that nothing else matters.

This is not your traditional wedding photographer post, nor wedding advice column for that matter. The world is so focused on what one day looks like on the exterior. I see more and more stunning destination weddings at unbelievable locations, yet the rate of divorce continues to rise. I wonder how many mountain top weddings will end in a dark valley. I wonder if all those little details matter in the end. I wonder if I am contributing to the colossal disaster of consumerism and focus outwardly beauty.

So to you, couples, focus on you. Focus on your relationship above all else, above the hustle and bustle, above the petty little things. Focus on your love, your family, and your future. Create a day that you want to enjoy, that you want to partake in as a symbol of your love. And when that day comes, let it go, take a deep breath and take in every moment with your friends, family, and most importantly your significant other. And yes, choose the right person to document it all, because you will want to remember that day, look back on it, and reminisce the moments captured.

Our wedding photographs hang in our bedroom. Every morning and every night they are a beautiful reminder of the love we felt for each other on that day. And it's constant motivation to strive to love one another more deeply, more fully.

I hope that Megan and Cody are able to reflect back on their wedding day and feel the same thing. The same love and motivation. I hope and pray that their marriage will be as beautiful as the day they said "I do." And honestly, I hope this for all of my couples, past and future.