It’s not often in my industry that I am astonished by couples, looking to get married. But this one caught me by surprise. I had gotten a call sometime in late August, from a guy name Chris. He told me that he was having a wedding in 3 weeks, and asked if I were available. I had one spot open, so I told him, yes, we were available. Thinking this would be just like every other wedding I’ve done in the past. I sent out contracts to be signed, itinerary to be filled out, and everything was a go.
I loaded up the equipment 3 weeks later, and headed to his venue. He had told me it was at his home, and the ceremony would be in the front yard, with the reception, in a large shop building, he had been cleaning out for weeks.
As I drove down an old, old, dirt road, I started thinking, I can’t be going the right way. But as the road came to an end, I saw the front yard. In the yard was a homemade arbor, in front of that, rows of hay lined up, with an aisle. On the hay were seating streamers, for guests to sit on. I knew then I was at the right place.
From the moment I arrived, I was inspired. Chris, with his soon to be wife, Ashley, came out to meet me. After talking with them about where I should set up, and going over a few details for the ceremony, I started to get to work. As I watched them preparing for the wedding ceremony, I had started to notice something about these two. The more you talked with them, the more you wanted to talk to them. It was charming, almost endearing even.
As the ceremony countdown began, I went in to check on Ashley. As I came around the corner in her house, she was nervously shaking. I asked her if she was nervous, she asked me “am I shaking?” Yes I told her maybe just a little. I asked if she was ready, she replied yes.
Going back outside to check on the groom, Chris, I noticed, he was trying hard to hide his nervous behavior too. He did a pretty good job of keeping it to himself. But being in this industry for so many years you tend to learn a lot about brides & grooms.
Everything went amazing for the ceremony. The Vows were made, and family and friends cheered as they walked down, the rows of hay aisle.
Few minutes later, I took some pictures for them, just as a keepsake, for them to have. I went into the reception area, where I had setup the DJ Booth. Asked all the guests to please come in. I let some background music play, while I went out to talk with Chris & Ashley about their grand entrance. It was during this time, that I learned what they had accomplished on their own.
What they told me next shocked me even more. They have been together for seven years, they have three children, two boys and a new baby girl. They planned this wedding over a, two months, span. Doesn’t sound like a lot does it? But let me stop you there. They were trying to make the most of their budget, to get the best possible wedding. They had managed to create one of the most elegant simple country weddings I have seen to date. But that’s not what made it so inspiring.
As the night went on, not only did I notice, what Chris & Ashley had together, the whole entire family and friends seemed to share. As I looked out across the room, you could almost reach out and grab a piece of love, like you would if it were a piece of cake. It literally filled the room. I went over to Chris & Ashley, and said, look what you’ve accomplished here. As they took the moment to look around, and, I found myself doing the same thing. Happiness seemed to be overflowing everywhere that night. Everyone there, seemed to be lost in a moment of time. As if only that moment existed.
As I watched Ashley dance with Chris during their first dance, I could see in both of them, why everything there seemed to stop. Love isn’t a word strong enough to say what I saw. If there is a word greater than love, then that would be the word I’m looking for, to say. There is so much more I could say about this couple, but I have to stop somewhere.