Jamie + Chris’s Private, Corona-Style Wedding Ceremony| Philadelphia, PA
March 2, 2020
“Guess what.”
The message popped up at me suddenly almost making me lose my balance. I was walking on the treadmill making my morning post as usual to save time. Today, there was a layer of sadness to it. I should have been packing my gear to drive to The Barn at Stoneybrooke for Jamie and Chris’s wedding day. Instead, I was exercising my frustration away while posting pictures from their engagement session as tribute to their original date before COVID-19 swept through the world turning our lives upside down.
I held my breath, full of hope as I typed back, “What?!?!” As soon as the picture of the arbor popped up on my phone, I started typing furiously asking questions. It turned out Jamie and Chris found a way to get their marriage license on Thursday and were planning to have a backyard wedding TODAY….on Saturday at 2:00 pm with just their parents, officiant and one other friend to take photos with her phone. I immediately hit STOP on the treadmill, looked at my watch doing the math and decided there and then that one of my family wasn’t going to have cell phone pictures of their wedding day if I had anything to do with it. Jamie and I were typing at the same time. She was asking if I wanted the link to the Zoom meeting to watch the ceremony and I was asking her if it would be okay if I was there for real. Let’s just say I was in my car 2 hours later with all my gear and on the road to Philly. I made it just in time to get Jamie in her dress, capture the emotion and beauty of the day and something that will never happen again….sort of! They even had a personalized mask for me to wear!
Yes, I know I probably shouldn’t have. Yes, I know there was a risk involved. But, you know what? #familyfirst and my couples are my family. I followed my heart on this one. I couldn’t have lived with myself to know I COULD have done it for them and not…and I’m proud of my decision. If I hadn’t, these moments wouldn’t have been captured. A daddy gave away his little girl. A father looked on proud of the man his son has become. A husband kissed his wife for the first time and tears of joy were shed as two families became one. No money was charged or earned on this day and we will do it all over again in July at The Barn at Stoneybrooke surrounded with the rest of their loved ones in person. It will be a vow renewal and Jamie will wear her formal wedding gown and dance the night away. I can’t wait.
Jamie and Chris, let’s just say I’ll never forget your wedding day for as long as I live. From the craziness of the day to the puppy ring bearers to Jamie turning around to go back for her bouquet on her way “down the aisle.” You have always had a special place in my heart with your welcoming spirits and kind smiles (and the most perfect puppies there ever were) but this experience has cemented a place in my heart forever. Your families are amazing. I know where you get it from now. I’m just so happy for you both and I hope you love this sample of photos from your one true wedding day. And, because I know how hard it is to wait, there is a surprise in your inbox RIGHT NOW so go check. XO – Megan
