Last Sunday I had the opportunity to photograph Cameron and Marc’s wedding in Paso Robles. Their celebration was held in the backyard of Marc’s childhood home. The view was outstanding up on the hill as friends and family gathered under a big oak tree behind the house where Cameron and Marc officially exchanged their vows.
Cameron and Marc have been together for a long time. As I was photographing their wedding story, I realized that their commitment to be with each other had been made long ago. It got me thinking about a passage I read in one of Robert Fulghum’s books well before Michelle and I had met.
“For one thing, they know, as I know, that the real wedding and the real vows don’t happen on the day of the formal social occasion.
There comes a time, usually some days after the proposal and acceptance, after the announcement and setting of the date and all the rest, when there is a conversation between two people in love, when they are in earnest about what they’ve agreed to do. The conversation happens over several days—even weeks. Partly in a car driving somewhere, partly at a kitchen table after supper, partly on the living-room floor, or maybe on the way home after a movie. It’s a conversation about promises, homes, family, children, possessions, jobs, dreams, rights, concessions, money, personal space, and all the problems that might arise from all those things. And what is promised at that time, in a disorganized, higgledy-piggledy way, is the making of a covenant. A covenant—an invisible bond of commitment. Just two people working out what they want, what they believe, what they hope for each other. With their eyes, they ask each other if they really mean it, and they do. Then they seal it with a whole lot more kissing and hugging than you’ll see in public. And that’s it. The wedding is done. All that’s left to do is the public celebration, however they choose to do it.” (Robert Fulghum, It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It).
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A wonderful note from Cameron and Marc – I don’t even know what to say…except that I really do need to stop wearing white :).
“Jonathan,
Marc said to me this morning, “The most important things I would tell someone about having a wedding are, one, have it on a day other than Saturday, and two, hire Jonathan.” We had no idea how committed to getting the right shots you would be–just a few examples include tree climbing, throwing horse manure out of the way, and rolling around in the dirt (I’m pretty sure by the time you left your white shirt was brown and full of stickers). You weren’t there to just take some pictures, you took the time to get to know us as a couple. The passage you quoted by Robert Fulghum made us realize how well you paid attention to our story and dynamic as a couple. The photography of our wedding day somehow tells a story of us past, present, and future. You captured parts of the day we don’t ever want to forget, and caught the moments we weren’t able to see. You were a pleasure to work with and have at our wedding (not to mention that our family and friends keep making comments about how much they enjoyed you). Oh, and Jonathan, did we mention that you rock?! Thank you for everything.
Cameron and Marc”
