I'm so glad to finally have this photo in a frame and displayed in our house. It is my absolute and only favorite of our "fake" wedding pictures.
The story starts with a Saturday night in August. Mike and I had teased about eloping a lot. One night, after only six months of dating, I don't know what came over us, but we drove to the nearest wedding chapel. I know it sounds cheesy but, when you know, you know. You know?
I was terrified to tell my mom and yeah, for awhile my family wasn't too happy with me. Eventually my mom came around and expressed that she was just sad that she didn't get to plan a wedding for me. I'll admit, even though I wouldn't change a thing, I kind of missed the fact that I didn't get to wear a pretty dress, or have a beautiful cake, or a fabulous reception. It probably took two seconds for me to eagerly tell Mom we could still plan a wedding.
We planned the wedding in record time. I had a pretty dress, a stunning cake, and a fabulous reception at University Plaza, the place I always imagined my reception would be. The day was fantastic. Kind of. Let me rephrase that. The day was fantasic, with the exception of our photographer.
We had went to the same photographer that my sister used for her wedding only to find out that she had retired and sold her business. I was so bummed because my sister's pictures were awesome! Because of the crunch in time, we hired the new owner. Big mistake. I still regret it to this day.
I knew while she was taking the pictures that the poses were cheesy and so not what I had in mind. She was no where near the level that I think a professional wedding photographer should be. She also brought along her assistant that was suppose to take candids throughout the day. I say suppose to because she thought her time was better spent flirting with the married groomsmen. (We probably ended up with five candid photos and not even good ones.) Mike and I were both about to tell the photographer and assistant to shove it.
The biggest let down was when she came to us during the reception and told us that she had screwed up the picture of us walking down the aisle after the ceremony. Okay, I get that that happens to even the best photographers but after dealing with her all day, that was it. She wanted to re-shoot it but we were so fed up with her that we made a joke out of it. We took our "fake" walk down the aisle (fitting since technically it was a "fake" wedding) making faces at each other. Basically, just being us. Goofy, sarcastic, impatient Mike and Allison.
It ended up being my favorite and the only picture I liked out of all the ones she took.
13 comments:
Great story and picture, Ali! I could only imagine how disappointing it is to not have wonderful pictures to mark the day. The photographer for my nephew's wedding went bankrupt before they got back from their honeymoon. They never saw a single picture and lost thousands of dollars.
What a great story behind that photo! My parents eloped waaaay back when, and I wish that I had a picture of them from their wedding...even a "fake" one. I hope that you printed out this story on the back of the add-on so that you can read it through the glass behind the frame.
Thanks for sharing your story. I literally read it like I was reading a book that I couldn't put down! It's strange how timely it was for me. I woke up this morning and could recall in vivid detail a very strange dream that I had last night. Long dream short - the Old Spice Guy (you know, the look down, look up... I'm on a horse) was our photographer and it all went horribly wrong. It was one of those dreams where you don't even know what's going on - I was surprised to find that it was my wedding and even more surprised when I was getting so upset about the photos. In the end, he was basically refusing to do anything I wanted and I was sure I was going to be cheated out of the photos completely.
Anyway... I think I had that dream because I, too, was very unhappy with my wedding photos and was dwelling on it again the other day. So much so that even though my photos were paid in full, I didn't even order my album for 6 years! When I finally did, I had to pay about $600 more dollars (prices went up, whatever!) just to get it. Small consolation is that I got the negatives too so at least I won't have any more dealing with him.
I guess all my rambling is to say that it makes me feel a little bit better about how much I still let my wedding photo situation bother me - even now, 10 years later! I guess your story validates my feelings a little - not to say that I am at all happy that it happened to you too. I'm glad to see that you and your husband managed to make the best out of it in the end.
I love the story and that you have it framed in your home to remember this day now. That is too bad about the photographer, every wedding needs a good one. Thanks for sharing.
What a great memory of your wedding ... not the photographer. It really bites that the quality was not there. At least you got one that you love. I got married in day of posed wedding pictures. I am envious of all my friends getting married now (I got married young) and how all their pictures are so much fun with so much personality.
You might not have great pictures but you have a great marriage. Some have the pictures and no marriage ;) Just something to smile about :)
Linda, that is horrible! I'm glad that I at least have pictures to document the day, even if I don't like them.
Amy, that is a great idea to put the story on the back. I think I will do that!
Michele, we did the same thing. We didn't get out pictures until four or five years after. And I know exactly how you feel about it still bothering you. I told Mike that on our 10th we are going to have a big bash, get super dressed up, and have a great photographer to document it!
Thank you Dawn!
Jennifer, I do the same thing. I see wedding pictures from others and am so jealous!
Lisa, your comment just made me look at the situation in a whole different way. It's so true! :)
My husband and I eloped too. We had only 3 pictures taken at the Justice of the Peace and i lost all 3 of them. Not that i really liked them anyways. We had a 10 year anniversary part as our "never had reception" and we only got 1 good picture of us because in a family of picture takers... NOONE took any! I feel your pain :)
That is a beautiful photo and a very interesting story! I think everyone has a little story to tell about their 'special' day. I will fill you in sometime.
Just checking your blog @ 2:00 am because I just got my blog hop post done...SHHH don't tell anybody!! LOL Anyway, I thought I'd catch up on some blogs since I'm not going to get any sleep today anyway ( wait, I guess it's yesterday by now..)oh well I just wanted to tell you I LOVE the font on your name for your blog! What is it?
LOL! Thank you! The font is called Lucy.
I was only planning on changing my header and here I am at 2:30 changing everything!
Hi Allison! I love all that you do with floating frames and I think I might try one myself soon . . . I'm hoping to do a single 12X12 layout as a wedding present. My question is . . . i'd like to add some bling and maybe some pearl brads - is there room in the floating frame for that? I picked one up at Micheal's yesterday and couldn't tell so I though I'd ask your advice.
While we're on the topic of weddings . . . this gift is for my second cousin who was the flower girl in my wedding. Nothing says you're getting old like going to your flower girls wedding :o)
Thanks!
Oh my goodness I felt like you were writing about our wedding photos/photographer! We had the same thing happen with the walk down the aisle! Our photographer put the film in BACKWARDS! How is that even possible?!?! Anyways thanks for the beautiful photo idea and the wonderful story! Who knew I wasn't the only one who hated ALL of her photos too ;)
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