August 21, 2020

Alicia + Jacob wedding {by liz & mer}

You guys, I’m out of practice. I just looked at my computer screen, took in a deep breath, and thought “Where do I start?” It feels like nothing is normal. I haven’t blogged a wedding (or for that matter photographed one) in MONTHS. It’s such a strange place to be…do I talk about COVID and all of the ups and downs, last minute changes, reschedules, cancellations and typing the same client contract for the 5th time? Do I honestly tell you that I’m on unemployment, our studio is basically sitting empty while we pay rent and 2021 prime dates have all been filled with clients from this year pushing off their wedding celebrations to next year? I am so scared for our industry. It’s really bad out there for so many of my friends and it makes my heart ache. Many super talented, dedicated business owners will not make it to the other side of this.

I have an enormous amount of empathy in my bones…it’s a blessing and a curse. I feel so incredibly bad for my couples. No one expected this and certainly no one ever would have picked this. 2020 was going to be a really big wedding year! After all it’s 2020…those numbers were meant to be on a wedding invitation. I cannot begin to imagine choosing between losing thousands of dollars in deposits and printed invitations OR moving forward with your wedding without your mom in attendance because she’s immunocompromised. A wedding should never be choosing between the lesser of two evils.

And now that we’ve been honest about our current state of being, let’s evaluate things. Sitting in my home office, I have managed to make friends with a few squirrels (my favorite of which is Sam) who come by everyday into my room via windowsill for a walnut snack. Do you need proof that love isn’t cancelled? I have two cardinals, Harold and Gertie, who come to visit every day as well. Harold dotes on Gertie. Multiple times I have seen him pick up a seed in his little beak and place it in hers. It is possibly the cutest thing ever. My husband Steve, who is also working from home, will randomly pop in just to give me a great big hug…and we will hang there in it for a minute. Without a word, we know the meaning. Life is tough right now, but I love you, you can lean on me, I will always be there for you, we will make it through.

Love is such a special gift, and this stupid virus can’t take it away. Our way of celebrating it might not look the same, but it is there. And I have to believe it always will be.

Ok, wiping a little tear, and sharing my second full wedding of 2020 with you! It didn’t look exactly like it was supposed to either, but only a small number of people will ever know. To me, it was beautiful. Rain or shine, virus be damned, these two got hitched! Congratulations to you both!

The “change the date” card says it all. No one will ever forget getting married in a pandemic.

These are the smiles I live for.

I could photograph cute doggies all day long!

I am in love with this bright and cheery bouquet from Belli Fiori.

A pandemic AND rain?! Come on! But how cute are these?

Their original wedding day was scheduled for the Missouri Botanical Garden, but I think that Oliva on the Hill made a pretty damn beautiful backup plan. And it stopped raining just in time…

These looks lol.

Plenty of sugar to fuel the dance party!