I recently had the pleasure of photographing Don and Joyce’s vow renewal of sixty years! Close friends and family (and horses) gathered at the couples beautiful farm in River Falls, WI. Some of Don and Joyce’s guests had even attended their wedding sixty years ago in 1961. I’ve photographed a lot of weddings in my career but I’ve never found myself sobbing behind the lens before. To hear two people say their personally written vows to each other who’ve already done the work is a whole different ball game. I can’t remember all the words exchanged between them but I do remember Don saying when Joyce married him she married three men. The man he was, the man he became, and the man he is now. Those words clung to me because of their truth. I cannot even fathom the amount of changes one goes through in sixty years. To witness them profess their love for each other was deeply moving.
Other than the ceremony itself, my favorite part of the day was photographing Don and Joyce with their original wedding photo. Don’s beautiful classic car made a cameo in the images as well making the images even more beautiful and timeless. A big thank you to Don and Joyce’s daughter Dayna for choosing me to document such an unforgettable event. I am humbled and grateful for the experience beyond belief. And for Don and Joyce, may the years to come be as sweet as the first sixty. Cheers!