50 years ago on this day they joined hands and shared rings and said “I do” for the world to see.  50 years ago on this day they were husband and wife, and they celebrated in the very church where the vows were told to the world.  Family and friends joined them as they renewed their vows for each other on their 50th wedding anniversary, and it was the highlight of my wedding photography career.  Here were two people that have been through many years of matrimony only to tell the world that they were still in this for the long haul.  Harold and LaDonna made me proud to be a wedding photographer, and they made me proud to be a husband and to be part of a marriage.  Marriage is a journey and they showed me that the journey is filled with love, family, laughter, and happiness.

A couple months ago one of their daughters contacted me and said that  I was a suprise gift to Harold and LaDonna.  This 50th wedding anniversary was going to be planned by themselves, but the children just had to contribute something.  So they asked me to capture the moment and the day for them.

The day began at the Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincoln Park Michigan.  The church were they saw each other as Bride and Groom 50 years ago on the same day.

Harold and Ladonna cut the cake just like they did 50 years ago, and Harold smashed a bit into Ladonna’s face just as he may have done then too.

The cake was a replica made by their children based on photographs from their original wedding album.

Harold and LaDonna, thanks for allowing me to capture this day in your lives. Your love for each other showed in yourselves as well as your children and grand children. After photographing new brides and grooms it was wonderful to see how a husband and wife can be after years of togetherness, friendship, and love. Of all the weddings I have photographed I will always remember the love that I saw in your eyes, the passion you have for each other, and the smiles on your children’s faces as you renewed your vows.

The evening was topped off with family at the Palazzolo Di bocce for some family fun and togetherness. Here’s a photo of their new wedding bands together on one of the Bacce balls.

“Today I take you as my husband”  I heard those words this week here in Nashville at the Imaging USA conference and it made me smile.  It made me grin in a way that ony a wedding photographer would.  When hearing those words I know where I would be standing if I was at that wedding.  I know that tears may be coming down my eyes as I listen to the words and press the shutter release button on my camera.  This is why I love photographing weddings.

I had an amazing time at the conference learning from other Wedding photographers the likes of Dane Sanders, Joe Buissink, Denis Reggie, Jose Villa, and Jerry Ghionis.  They taught me so much in just a short time.  My wife said I was like a kid in a candy store, and bless her heart for coming here with me and taking in this world of wedding photography with me.  She really learned a lot too, and it was wonderful to have her by my side during the sessions and the expo.

I got the opportunity to meet Dane Sanders and thank him for changing the way I think about the wedding photography business.  He was a genuine person to speak with and he got a kick out of the fact that I call Julie my bride.

The Opryland hotel was an amazing place, and I only brought my backup camera to capture some of the coolness of this place.  Here’s a photo of my bride and I in one of the atriums.