Old 4th Ward Wedding
I love wedding days. Especially LGBTQ+ wedding days. The celebratory love in the air is palpable. You can feel it. The genuine excitement is spilling out of everyone present. But this day might have been a little extra. There was true devotion to being a Star Wars fan while marrying on the 4th of May. Instead of a first dance, there was a seriously competitive first game of Mario Kart. A surprise drag queen performance that thrilled everyone. And there was running at the photographer under sparklers after promises were made to not run at the photographer. This Old 4th Ward wedding day and celebration at New Realm Brewing Co was unlike any other wedding day.
Hand Fasting Ceremony in Old 4th Ward Wedding
A hand fasting ceremony in the midst of vows literally tied the knot in this Old 4th Ward wedding. Ribbons were wrapped around Ben + Zach’s hands by each of their parents. As they stepped away from each other pulling the ribbons tight, a knot formed in the middle. Uniting them in a shared promise to love each other. Forever.
First Game and Not-So-First Dance
They chose to have a game of Mario Kart on a monitor in the New Realm Brewing Co over a first dance. The competition was fierce and it the lesser skilled player who ended up winning. We won’t name names. And while they seemed to be opposed to a first dance, or dancing together in general as anything ceremonious. These two grooms joined the dance floor when they saw Ben’s parents slow dancing sweetly together. Ben + Zach joined them on the dance floor during this special song. There might have been tears sliding down my cheeks as I thought about the privilege of having their parents dancing together and loving each other so much.
Thank You for Your Trust
Ben + Zach. Thank you for the honor and privilege of trusting me to photograph the start of your marriage. Seeing your reactions when I returned your wedding day was everything to me. Hearing you say that me being there helped you (and so many others) feel less stressed and made the day better…it makes me feel so fulfilled in doing what I do. I can’t not smile when I think about you two.
For those of you planning an LGBTQ+ wedding day and are interested in starting a conversation, reach out here. I’d love to talk to you about your plans for the start of your marriage. And please know that I will never post photographs of your day without your permission. I value your privacy and safety over marketing my business and showing off my work. When I do have permission to share days like Ben + Zach’s, I am absolutely thrilled to share this kind of love and joy.