Johnston Wedding

On the morning of the wedding day was picked up at my hotel by the very calm groom and his brother Matt or better known today as “the best man” and off we went to the church.


As soon as we arrived Mike and Matt’s mom, Deb, pulled me aside: “I have to talk to you” she said. Concerned I followed her…what happened? As we found a quite spot she reached in her beg and pulled out a little torques wrap “this” she said, ”is for you. We love you so much and can’t say enough about how much we appreciate you coming all the way out here to shoot Mike & Emily’s wedding”. And she pulls out of the wrap a Tiffany’s necklace…needless to say, I was speechless.





But even if I could talk I had to choose my words carefully since Deb was already tearing up and this was just the morning of the wedding day, we had a whole day ahead of us, and I didn’t want to be too emotional and have her fall apart and ruin her beautiful makeup. So I thanked her gracefully, asked her to help me put the necklace on, and went on to shoot the bride getting ready.


Emily was lots of fun, all giggles and excitement. She finally started feeling the butterflies in her stomach when she put on her beautiful dress. And when she walked down the aisle, Mike couldn’t hold back the tears as he was looking at his beautiful bride.



Even when the minister chocked up on his tears, Emily didn’t break. She was playfully trying to sneak a kiss to Mike, who almost fell for it but then remembered that today he had to wait for the minister’s permission.


After the kiss sealed the deal, Mike & Emily were greeted with bubbles as they made their way to the very cool collector’s car that took them for a quick spin, and they were back at the reception to be introduced as “Mr. & Mrs. Johnston!”


The cake that was created by Emily’s mother was nothing less than an art piece, and whenever everyone started clapping Mike & Emily came running towards each other and embraced in a kiss.
Reminiscing on the quick shot I snapped back at Matt’s wedding of Jerry, Mike & Matt’s father, carrying Deb’s purse, the Johnston’s wanted to recreated that “Kodak moment”. Mom brought all her best purses, one for each guy, and we had some fun playful pictures taken. We also recreated the Kodak moment of Deb and her twin sister kissing the groom. It was a funny picture when Matt was the groom, and proved to be as funny with Mike.


And at the end of the day, after all was calming down, I walked over to Deb, and gave her a great big hug. Now it was ok to cry, and so we did, as I was calling her a “crazy woman”, and telling her now she raised the bar to all my couples – from now on I expect to get a “bling bling” on every wedding I shoot!


Matt and Crystal got up bright and early Sunday to take me to the airport, and as we said out goodbyes I knew I was going to miss the Johnston’s. There is still one single cousin…hmm…no pressure Justin…

9/12 an email from Deb came in:

Rinat:

Matthew just gave me a call to let me know the pictures of Michael and Emily's wedding were on-line. He told me to read the blog first, loved the pictures of you modeling the wedding dresses, you were just beautiful and you look like a natural!! Now I know why are so good at capturing photos. I read the blog and was brought to tears - hope you know we will always remember you. I am going to order the picture of you and I and put it in my own wedding album I am creating of both Matthew and Michael's weddings. The "purse" photo was even better the second time around!!!

Better close for now but just wanted to say thank you for the memories of both sons' weddings - you are the best!!!

Love, Deb

P.S. The family photos downtown are great too!