How Are Wedding Days Remembered? – Todd + Gara’s Day

On a wedding day that spans twelve hours and a ceremony and two separate receptions between Macon and Atlanta, there are so many moments to remember. Stories to be told, over and over again. To this generation. To the next.

There are people who celebrated this day who made it even better by being there in person. Who were captured in photographs. Whose stories will be told to those they may never meet in the coming decades.

It makes sense when photography is so valued by a couple that they would want to have so many images available to share. To talk about. And to see every day in their home.

And when it’s a wedding day that is twelve hours non-stop, there is bound to be more than one image box needed to keep all of the prints stored safely.

These boxes were HEAVY as they were filled with 4×6 prints for Todd + Gara to immediately enjoy when I returned their wedding day to them.

After they saw all of their wedding images, Todd + Gara ordered this 20×30 fine art metal that floats on the wall.

And they also ordered these three gorgeous wedding albums with distressed leather covers debossed with their initials and wedding date.
One 12×12 to keep for themselves and two 10×10 parent albums to surprise their moms on Christmas Day.

These albums are identical in layout, carefully curated and designed to include their most favorite images and moments from their wedding day. That they can hold in their laps, feeling the weight of the album as they turn the pages and are pulled right back into how they felt during each moment. That will become talking points to rising and future generations as they tell their story. And the stories of past generations, family members, and friends.

There are spreads with images that take up every square inch of space, like this first one when their wedding album is opened.

And spreads like this that give context to parts of the day and what was happening.

Like this shuttle bus ride from Atlanta to Macon.

Like how Gara’s sister reacted after trying a new beer. And the exuberance of their nephew over riding in a shuttle bus.

They will have images that pull them back into the happiness and joy at the start of their wedding ceremony.

The continual laughter and excitement that filled this Macon church during their wedding ceremony.

The moment after they were pronounced husband and wife.

The celebrating on the shuttle bus back to Atlanta with closest friends and family.

The second reception of the day in Atlanta at the Urban Tree Cidery and just a few of the 3500 cookies Gara’s mom baked for the Pittsburgh Cookie Table that took the place of a wedding cake.

The toasts of hope and joy surrounding the start of a marriage.

The gathering of people from all over the country who came to celebrate this special and incredible day.

And a reminder of the love and laughter that these two seem to always and indelibly share. Always.

Todd and Gara joined together in holy matrimony on the fourteenth of October in two thousand seventeen.
Surrounded by their closest family and friends. Numbering in the hundreds.
Because the start of a marriage is incredible.
Two adults don’t get to this day without having been impacted by hundreds of people to become the individuals they are when they make such a serious commitment.
After all, it takes a village.
It seems appropriate that the village would come together, from all over the country, to witness this event and celebrate together.

Todd + Gara.
You’re building an incredible legacy, surrounded by fabulous people who have no doubt made you who you are today.
May this legacy be passed down to generations.
With your photographs.
Your stories.
Your love + laughter.