COVID-19 is a mess. We all know that. The wedding industry has definitely been hit hard, and most 2020 couples have needed to significantly alter their wedding day visions. It has been a massive bummer, but life and love are still happening all around us, and that’s worth celebrating. Through the fear, the disappointment, the anger, the scrambling, one thing hasn’t changed—we are here to capture life’s biggest moments in ways that people can treasure forever. In the case of weddings, sometimes those happen in the presence of 500 people, and sometimes they happen in front of 10 people. Whatever the company, I would submit to you that the moments of a wedding day are no less real and no less powerful.
Ruey and Dani had their original wedding plans busted, but I’m so happy for them that they decided to maintain their wedding day and cement their love and commitment forever. It was stripped down from all the pomp and circumstance of what they were hoping for, but they are now husband and wife, and they got to enjoy an absolutely beautiful day. Certainly having to pare down your wedding is not without its drawbacks. Most family and friends were not able to be in attendance, of course, and none of Ruey’s family were able to travel into the country. There is no positive to draw from not having loved ones in attendance, and I’m sure that was the biggest bummer of their new wedding reality. Family and friends got to witness everything on Zoom, but I’m sure they desperately wanted to be present in person. Though they weren’t able to give loving and congratulatory hugs, they were still able to laugh, cry and celebrate alongside Ruey and Dani virtually, which we are all becoming all too adept at by now, right??
We started the day getting ready at Dani’s parents’ place, where we photographed details, getting ready and Dani’s first look with her dad. Dad got all dressed up for the big moment before the wedding, then immediately took off that uncomfortable nonsense and was in a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops before we left! We then traveled out to a nearby park for Ruey and Dani’s first look together, and then some family and bridal party photos. We were blessed with a perfect day weather-wise, which was surprising because you would have expected after all else these guys had been through that we would have seen either a tornado or snow at the end of May. Bug Soother was in the equation for the day, and so was a lot of gnat removal in post-processing. Stupid bugs.
After frolicking all over the park, it was time to get these two married, so naturally we headed to Ruey and Dani’s backyard. It was perfect. As Dani walked around the house and down the aisle, all the emotions were still present. As they spoke their vows to one another, the words were still potent and brought forth tears. As they shared their first kiss as husband and wife, the joy was still visibly overwhelming. It was perfect . . . even if it wasn’t exactly according to plan.
Ruey and Dani, thank you guys for choosing to have us capture your big day! We hope that you’ll be able to cherish these photos and the memories they represent, and that it will give you another way to share the day with those that weren’t able to be present. We’ll see you next year for your other big day!
Such beautiful picture of Happy Hearts♥️ Congratulations to all!