July 18th... I sometimes wonder what each of them were doing on this day for all of their lives up until this point. Did they know? Did something inside of them feel brighter? For all those years, I choose to believe that part of their hearts told them, even in the faintest whisper, that, someday, this day would be theirs...
A 3-shot preview of yesterday's wedding, as captured by Thomas Gardella:
She flew to Austin all the way from Nova Scotia, and my heart hasn't been the same since. I am so blessed to do the sacred river work that I do, and when it brings me face to face with women as radiant and grace-filled as Deedee, I can barely believe it's real life.
A preview of our time together:
I am often asked why I am not on certain wedding websites that harvest reviews from previous couples and then offer up "rewards" based on how many people signed on to pat you on the internet back. My reply is pretty simple, and honest.
It feels cheap. It feels like something a car dealership would do. And at the end of the day, like a little old lady, I am convinced that these sites really just want your client's information so they can contact them with ads and other promotional nonsense.
The relationships I forge with my couples isn't something you can assign digital stars to. I'm not an umbrella you got on sale at Amazon.com, I am a human being with a beating heart who takes photographs with the eyes of someone who loves, like really actually loves, your story.
I never feel like I am missing out by not participating in the "rate-me!" game because my cup is filled with each in-person giant hug or handwritten thank you note. And I like to believe that the couples who find me, and choose me to capture their wedding day, are from my same tribe and aren't really into that whole industry machine, either.
OK, I say all of this, and then, AND THEN, Laura Max Rose shows up today and leaves my eyes filled with happy tears and my heart just glowing. Because, it turns out, having someone you photographed shower you with love, publicly, and in such a genuine and heartfelt way, is a whole different kind of beautiful magic.
I love my couples. Every single one of them. And this gift Laura has given me, means the world:
A blog post by Laura Max Rose about what it was like working with Michelle Gardella, Photographer.
Included with all of our 2016 weddings is a complimentary session. Couples can choose between engagement, bridal, River Story™, or rehearsal evening coverage. Just because Thomas and I are more than a little bit in love with being behind the camera, and we love our couples to the moon and back.
Danielle and David's intimate and classic vineyard rehearsal dinner ended with awesome s'mores on the beach. Kind of perfect, right?
Venue: Chamard Vineyards
All Photographs by: Thomas Gardella
One word: Survivor. Cancer's got nothing on this warrior heart.
