:: January 2021 Archive ::

The last time I did a year in review was 2018 (you can read it here!). Not sure what happened to 2019, and then 2020 came around and reared its ugly head. As you can see from past posts of this nature, I usually do a mix of families and weddings together. However, this year is a little (ok a lot!) different. My 2020 couples deserve a post of their own. My 2020 couples had visions. Visions of an early morning spent getting ready with best friends and awesome playlists. Dreams of an aisle with an army cheering as vows are said and a marriage made official. Thoughts of mingling with merlot as delicious appetizers are passed and families swoon over every last detail. Hopes for a bustling dinner and a packed dance floor. Of a honeymoon somewhere warm to soak it all in. Then along came a Friday in March, and in one moment any hope for these plans was dashed. As reality set in, I sent preemptive emails to make sure each couple was safe, healthy, and staying sane…and a very interesting thing happened. My inbox became full of messages where positivity was the main theme. Lots of “we are going to do this one way or another!” or “we have a new date and we can’t wait!”. I think there are times in life where other people truly teach you something, and this was one of those times. My brides and grooms stood by their commitment to each other and also stood by me. As a small business owner, this has meant more than anyone will ever know. And as someone who believes in marriage, Covid has proved to me that a big wedding is great…but a promise for a lifetime is even better. When we are all sitting on that proverbial front porch someday, we might not remember what we wore or what we ate. I like to think we’ll cherish the in between. The seemingly insignificant moments that make up a life well lived. The sound of someone’s laughter. Being able to sit together around a dinner table, listening to the trials and triumphs of second grade. Going to bed at night not knowing what tomorrow will bring…but knowing that no matter what, you’ll face it together. At the risk of sounding so clichè, I really do think this is the take away to a really hard year.

My hope is that the following images highlight that there can still be joy in sorrow. That hope really does matter. And that the power of the human spirit is really something. To ALL my 2020 couples, whether you married this year or are planning for the future…I am so proud of each and every one of you. Thank you isn’t enough and never will be, but..thank you thank you thank you. Each of you will always hold a special place in my heart.

I am so looking forward to a brighter future and can’t wait to see what 2021 has in store!

Life during a pandemic was not easy. There was loneliness, isolation, loss of patience, loss of jobs, loss of life (and life as we know it) for too many. I took the time to look back through all the portraits taken on my camera in 2020. This is one of my favorite things to do every year…doing so brings me back to all the moments that define 12 months in time. And you know what? 2020 didn’t seem to be lacking all that much after all. Couples still happily awaited new life, toddlers still stopped to pick up a stick or smell a flower. Moms and Dads still took the time to really breathe in their children, hoping once again to stop time. Siblings ran through the grass, played in the leaves, and looked forward to showing off their prized Halloween pumpkins. Babies celebrated birthdays, wiggled their toes, snuggled up tight, safe in their parents arms. We were stuck at home, yes. But maybe a little stickiness wasn’t so bad. These pictures were taken at different times of the day during all different seasons, and there is joy to be found in each one.

The intent of this post is not to downplay or take away from what so many people suffered through in 2020. This is my thank you. To each family who chose me during the craziest year in recent history. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting me with your memories…ones that I know you hold a little closer now more than ever.