It finally happened! I crashed my first wedding! And it was on a BEACH. Check and check!
While we were on vacation in Traverse City, Michigan, I happened to be on our hotel balcony, then noticed something happening on the beach. At first I saw someone in a nice outfit playing guitar. Another person walks out with a book. Family members started to gather. And then a bride walks out from her room with her wedding party. I thought, oh my gosh, is a wedding about to happen outside of our room? I looked around to see if they had a photographer, but I didn’t see one! So, I leaned over, waved the bride down, and shouted “EXCUSE ME DO YOU HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR YOUR WEDDING!?” Mind you, she is literally about to walk down the aisle. She said, “I have our friends and family with their phones.” I told her that I was a photographer and would love to take photos of her wedding and she said yes! I’m glad she did because I probably looked like a crazy person flagging her down like that from the 2nd floor! I rushed back inside the room, told my husband what was happening, grabbed my camera with about half of the battery left, an SD card that was almost full, and ran down the stairs. I rushed out and just went into wedding photographer mode, and wow, what a RUSH! Nobody had a clue who I was and the groom at some point asked “Did someone surprise us with a photographer?” It was all around just an amazing moment.
I love weddings. I miss photographing them. I loved the pressure I had to capture the most perfect moments. The chaos of running around. Getting to know the bride and groom. Talking with friends and family. All of it! I thought it would be hard for me to jump back in after over a decade, but it was just like riding a bike. Also, I forgot to mention, it was in the middle of the fires happening, so the beach was really smoky! I’ve never seen the beach like that, so it made for some really interesting, yet stunning photos.
Jessica and Eugene, thank you for letting me crash your wedding. Not only can you enjoy these photos forever, but now you have a unique story tied to it. I wish you both the absolute best in your life together! Truly a day I will never forget!
