Jess is taking over the blog today so she can let us know about a recent wedding she did. Take it away, Jess!
My most recent wedding was such a reminder of why I love being a wedding photographer. Andrea and Wjotek united at their gorgeous farmhouse for a backyard wedding. There were only twelve people there total, all family and two very close friends. Although the whole thing only lasted a few hours, I was completely overwhelmed by the sense of family and love that was so clearly present. This was such an intimate experience for them and a true celebration of love. I think the coolest part was that it wasn’t just a wedding, it was a taking of new last names. Andrea’s two daughters were also getting a new last name that day and she is expecting a new addition to their family. It was a really special day for these two little girls. It was not just two people coming together as one, but rather a family coming together as one. The entire time I just kept thinking to myself, “There are twelve people here sharing this beautiful, intimate moment… and then there’s me.” It was so amazing to be there to just soak it all in and be able to photograph and preserve this monumental time not only for Andrea and Wjoteck, but for their daughters.
Everything about the day was so charming and relaxed. The girls went into the yard to pick flowers for their baskets, bouquets were being made in the kitchen from wildflowers and put in vases that were just laying around the house, and I can’t even being to explain how good the homemade Polish food was that Wjotek’s mother prepared. Wjotek’s sister was the officiant which was awesome. She read a beautiful sonnet from Shakespeare and gave them the book afterwards. There was chatter during the ceremony, everyone was very much a part of it.
There were “unity legos”. They each had a bowl of legos from their childhood and then the two girls took them and mixed them all together into one big bowl. One of my favorite pictures is the one of Andrea and Wjotek holding each other while watching the girls mix up their legos. Wjotek also handmade their rings. They were gorgeous. I thought that was so awesome, it made the symbolism of wedding rings very special. Handmade with love for each other. They also got the girls beautiful necklaces with their initials, the last initial being their new last name.
I could keep going on and on about all of the things that I loved from this day. This wedding truly inspired me in a way no wedding has ever done before. I’m a believer in soul mates and becoming one with someone and I got to see two people that in my eyes, achieved that. I’m so thankful I got to be a part of this celebration. This is why I love being a photographer and I can’t wait for all of my upcoming weddings.
Cheers to Andrea and Wjotek and cheers to love!