This is it, my last wedding of 2020! I’m sad I won’t get to photograph another wedding for a while, but honestly not sad to see the season end. Does that make sense? It was the year for many firsts for my business, not all good either. But it was also the year that I think showed the most growth. I had to adapt, I had to learn, I had to deal with some no so fun things, I had to get creative, but most of all, I had to keep hustling, and hustle I did. I started this business three years ago this November and I’m not even close to letting this dream of mine go, so when all things 2020 started happening, I didn’t see any other option aside from just keep working, but harder. In the end, I have my couples and families to thank for supporting me through it all, couples like Eric and Courtney.
I’ve been friends with Eric for as long as I can remember. We quite literally grew up together, going to the same school, and then going over to his Aunt and Uncle’s house after school every day. His family became my family and about 75% of my childhood memories include them. We had so many fun times together starting from when were little all the way up to the present. Eric is just one of those loyal friends that you know will always be there, and there’s so much comfort in having a friend like that. Of course as we got older, we went our separate ways to college and didn’t talk as much but when he would come home for visits, we would always try and make time to hang out and catch up. Well one of those visits is when a very special someone came home with him and the rest is history for these two! I think once everyone met Courtney and saw how Eric was with her, we all just knew, we knew she was the one. They balance each other out so perfectly and make each other so happy. It got to the point where everyone was constantly asking the question, “Are they engaged yet?!” And then it finally happened! December of 2018, it was the moment everyone was waiting for! Soon after Court said “Yes!” the planning process began and at first, it was totally normal wedding planning business as usual…until it wasn’t. They had pretty much every “T” crossed and “I” dotted and then were thrown a curveball no one could anticipate. Along with every other couple who had planned the perfect 2020 wedding day, they had to make a million and one last minute adjustments, but spoiler alert, October 17th, 2020 was still the most perfect wedding day. It was filled with family, special moments, laughs, good food, and above all, love. When I was driving to Eric’s parents house to start the day, I couldn’t help but remember all of the good times I spent at that house when we were kids. Summer’s spent watching Pirates of the Caribbean, or playing air hockey in the basement, or the lighting up of the DeCelle Christmas tree in a massive bonfire. And now I was on my way to photograph his wedding day. All the memories and emotion caught up to me, multiple times throughout the day. Tears were shed but in a good way. I can’t put into words how much this career means to me. Being able to be there for my friends to document their wedding day is quite literally one of the greatest joys of my life, aside from my daughter obviously 😉
Eric and Courtney, while your day may have looked different than how you originally planned it, an outsider looking in wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference. It was as perfect as a wedding day can be. You two were meant to find each other and to link your lives together through marriage. You both mean so much to me and I love and appreciate how we can just pick up where we left off when we get together. Your friendship is one I hold so close to my heart, and I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be your wedding photographer. Cheers to a lifetime of adventures and happiness! I love you guys!
