Two days before I was due to photograph the 50th wedding anniversary vow renewal of this Groom and his Bride, I was invited into their home so we could get acquainted before the big day.
In this old school Italian family’s home, I sat at the table with the happy couple and some dear old friends of theirs who had been married for 43 years.
This here marriage novice had the most insightful discussion with these nuptial heavy weights on the secret to longevity in a union. We ate cheese and figs and drank wine and in no time I felt like I was part of the family, and it was beautiful.
The big day was touched gently by sadness, as it also marked the end of a mourning period after the loss of a dear one, but I truly believe I saw many generations of this family present, those with us and those passed, all celebrating 50 years of amore and famiglia.
LOVE & FAMILY
What else is important?
Nothing.
I’m honoured to have been able to chronicle the day, and capture just a few of the precious moments that this family had.
The biggest thing I’ll take away with me from this experience were the words of the Groom, the evening we met.
‘In life, in the home, there will be storms, but soon, the sun… she come out.’
Sage advice for a novice.
21 Comments
This brought tears to my eyes. How wonderful that they’re still so in love after all these years. It gives me hope that kind of love actually does exist.
I know, right? It was a very special day. There a lot of love going on! Her original bridesmaid was there so I even learnt about enduring friendship.
Special.
How shitfuckinamazing are you at photography!!
Do you really think so??? It’s a new thing for me so I’m still making it up as I go along!!
Thanks for that comment though. I think you just made my day!!
Your pictures tell stories really well.
Thanks, Kev x
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On 10/05/2013, at 8:47 AM, Keeping Up With The Holsbys
This is a beautiful post and makes me smile … Love … Family, and taken for granted too often (by me). They look too young to have been married for 50 years! Gorgeous photos too, you captured some great moments. I like the one the little girl almost doing a wink!
I love that one too. I took about a thousand pics of her!
Some truly beautiful photographs. You really do have a gift; I don’t know these people or anything about them but through your words and photography I feel like I do. I feel like I was there to witness the love and joy because it shines through so strongly in the pictures you took. Amazing.
Thanks so much. I really loved being a part of the occasion (and I took a gazillion pics!), so it was truly a pleasure.
You did a fantastic job. The love on that day must have been electric and contagious. 50 year! That’s quite an achievement. We just celebrated 4 years. Only 46 to go!
48 for me. Our ‘first dance’ might be in wheelchairs!!
Thanks, babe xxx
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On 10/05/2013, at 12:01 PM, Keeping Up With The Holsbys
THis made me all weepy too, beautifully captured. 30 years to go here, ekk.
…..pah, almost there!!
lol not if I kill him first 🙂
You’d get less time in jail than that 😉
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On 10/05/2013, at 5:19 PM, Keeping Up With The Holsbys
🙂 good point!
Man I hope we’re still as happy as these two when Bearhands and I notch up fifty!
Wow! spectacular photos. You stayed on the ball all day. My favourite is the one of them both sitting down and giving each other a kiss. Really beautiful! A great diary of a special day.
I took a million shots!! Thanks for your kind words. I love that image too. Pleased you enjoyed their story.
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On 16/05/2013, at 7:51 AM, Keeping Up With The Holsbys
[…] There has been some great posts by Mum’s writing about their partners in the Illiterate Infant’s Mum’s on Dads guest post series and this is no exception. Today we welcome Danielle who writes with the perfect balance of honesty, creativity and dry witt over at keepingupwiththeholsbys. When she’s not entertaining me with her clever perspectives on un-friending etiquette or surviving toddlers she’s writing honestly about domestic violence or the importance of love and family. […]