About 2 weeks after our first consultation she called me, practically in tears. I could hear in her voice how panicked she was, which really worried me. I know how crazy things get as the day gets closer, so as she was introducing the issue to me, I thought about every issue that could possibly go wrong. As it turned out, the relative who was hosting her (gorgeous!) backyard wedding had just let her know that the original date of the wedding was not doable because they would be out of town. That put Britney in a sticky situation. Almost in tears, she asked me, "Is there any possible way you're available the following weekend? I know you're always booked months in advance, and I understand if you are. But I'm totally willing to work this wedding around your schedule if you're free the following weeks." I wish she was standing in front of me at that moment so I could just grab her and hug her. My goodness. I checked my schedule and as it turned out, I had a TFP shoot that could easily be rescheduled. I let her know that I was definitely available and she shrieked! Oh my gosh, I was so excited for her! She was finally going to be able to put on her dream wedding!
Everything proceeded just fine until the next phone call from her, about a week before the wedding, "Ande, I'll pay you whatever it is that you ask for. I'm so sorry to spring this on you. I just cannot get a hold of a makeup artist. Every single one who has been recommended to me has not followed through with their appointments with me! Is there any way you can do my makeup before the wedding?"
"Of course, love! I would love to!"
What an eventful wedding! Small ceremonies are always so sweet. An adorable young man with Downs Syndrome became "the model" that is always at every wedding. I normally have to run away from them because they're so consumed with, "Omg, wait, let's get another one! I'm totally gna pose like this! I'm a model, ya know. I've modeled for my Uncle Bob" and it's really irritating, lol. But this young man was such a change of pace, and so delightful! I found out he would be my model as I was testing my lighting in the living room. I was just aiming the camera randomly and slowly, a goofy smile appears before my lens. The lighting was too dark. I raise the camera again, adjust settings and there he is making a goofy face. Perfect light, shining on a total goofball. Even if I was just resting my camera near him, I'd see him out of the corner of my eye just waiting like a ninja in the night, his eyes set on my camera and me. He was the best wedding model I've had! After the ceremony I was wrapping up shots of the bride and groom in the house. My back was turned toward the rest of the house while I photographed the couple at the bar. All of a sudden, I feel a big bear hug from behind me. I wasn't very familiar with anyone there so I didn't know how to react to feeling a giant hug around my waist. When I turned around, there was that giant, goofball smile with those big, angel eyes staring up at me! I gave him a big bear hug right back! When his mom saw this, her jaw dropped, "He doesn't trust the majority of women around him. I've never, ever seen him do that to anyone, especially a woman. You have something special about you that he likes!" I explained to her that I have a way with kids, animals and special needs children and adults. They see my aura and know I'm completely harmless. She was so happy to see him trusting a woman who he just met!
Congrats to the newlyweds! What a beautiful ceremony!
