Ceremony in front of their home with a DIY 'Social Distancing Please' sign posted.
I met Kristin and Jeff while I was traveling in Zambia. It was completely by chance. The owner of the lodge came to me and told me that there was another couple from the DC area and introduced us. We sat for a while and talked. They were about a quarter of the way through an amazing 9-month adventure around the world. We shared travel stories about our adventures and I continued to follow their imperfect journey on Instagram. Which were all of the truly perfect and imperfect adventures!
At the end of their 9-month journey at the very bottom of the world Jeff asked Kristin to marry him… surrounded by penguins and icebergs… Kristin of course said yes! While we only met for a short time I was really excited for them! A few months later I got an email from them asking if I was available to photograph their wedding in May 2020. Remembering them and being honored that they remembered a stranger they met along the road I wrote back to them immediately.
Like all couples in March, we realized that their May 2020 wedding may not be a reality. I received a call from their planner that their wedding would be canceled until further notice. Then about two weeks later I got a text from Kristin asking if I would be interested in photographing their front yard wedding. Something simple to celebrate their union. I told them I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
And so, on a warm Saturday at the beginning of May, Jeff and Kristin had the most beautiful wedding in front of their home.
While this quarantine hasn’t been ideal for anyone… it has brought on a sense of unity amongst neighbors. When Jeff and Kristin decided they were getting married they put out an announcement on their community page offering for people to stop by and wave or say 'hi' if they were in the area. They also asked if people had any extra flowers from their gardens they wouldn’t mind donating to help decorate the front of their house. And so, the flowers were brought…. Azaleas came by the bags and bucket fulls. Strangers from around their neighborhood had cut fresh blooms off their bushes and left them on their front stoop with bottles of champagne and cards with good wishes.
