Bernie & Libby's 65th Wedding Anniversary ❤️ | Cataraqui Golf and Country Club
I wasn’t intending to cry at this anniversary shoot, I promise!
It just happened.
I am professional, and try my hardest not to get all choked up during anniversaries and weddings… because let’s face it: I’m photographing weddings all the time!
But this one…I just couldn’t help it.
Luckily, I think I wiped my tears fast enough for no one to notice.
Planning to Photograph a 65th Anniversary
It all started when one of Libby and Bernie’s kids, Mike, got in touch, asking if I could photograph his parents’ anniversary.
He said he wanted a few group photos of the guests arriving, and of the family once everyone gathered.
And the rest, he said, could be totally candid shots or people celebrating.
It was going to be a lunch, super easy, mid-day on Sunday.
So I was already pretty mentally committed and excited.
The last thing was for them to go through the booking proposal (that’s the online place I send to clients that goes over the pricing of the package we talked about, as well as other logistical details).
They went through it, and everyone was happy!
So the anniversary photography was a GO!
Family Group Photos Before Everyone Arrives
I arrived early, at around 10:30am or so, to catch everyone arriving, and to grab some family photos before all the other guests arrived.
Because it was summertime, the sun shone brightly.
So we tried to find a shadier spot to do some of the family photos.
(I suggested that if we’re in full sun, people might end up squinting.)
Some people chose to be in the sun, and that was fine, too, though. We just made them close their eyes and count to three, then open their eyes just as the photo was about to be taken! Haha. That’s a little hack that most photographers know and use. You can thank me later :P
The Town Cryer Makes a Grand Entrance
Everyone was just sitting down to lunch, when the most exciting thing happened: the town Crier came in.
for those of you who aren’t sure: the town crier is the person who traditionally makes announcements in a given town.
I honestly had no idea that Kingston had a town crier, and that probably speaks to my ignorance.
But we do, ladies and gents and all… We certainly do!
The Kingston town crier is Chris Whyman and he did a splendid job, reading from a large scroll and ringing his big brass bell in the middle of the dining hall.
Then he went over to congratulate Bernie and Libby on their 65 years of marriage.
Speeches and Anniversary Slideshow on the Projector
Libby and Bernie’s children had put together a gorgeous slideshow of photographs from Libby and Bernie’s 65 years of life.
This is when I got all choked up.
There were imaged of them as a newlywed couple…
Images of them as parents to very young kids… the same kids that were gathered here today to celebrate their parents… and had brought their OWN children…
The entire thing was just so emotional.
The passage of time is always a bit of a trigger for me.
But in this case, it was such a happy thing, too.
Because there were multiple generations gathered…. so much life lived and shared… so much love and laughter…
One of the elderly female guests flagged me down to show me her photograph in Libby and Bernie’s wedding album.
She pointed to a photo in the album (from 1957!) and said: “that’s me! I was one of the bridesmaids! I can still remember the dress I wore. It was yellow.” (The album was black and white, so the yellow dress didn’t show, but I couldn’t believe the history I was witnessing: both in the book, and in the people standing in front of me… 65 years later.
Many of the folks in the album had since passed. It was so lucky that I got to meet some of the ones who were still with us, and still happy and vibrant.
What an amazing opportunity.
I’ll always remember Libby and Bernie’s 65th Anniversary lunch.
I’ll remember how they danced together - the traditional jewish ‘hora’ - and how they sat together at a sweetheart table at the front of the dining hall.
I’ll remember how Libby wiped tears as she watched the slideshow of her and Bernie’s life unfolding on the big screen in front of her.
I’ll remember the town crier announcing this awesome occasion…
And I’ll remember the love that these two people had for each other… since 1957… that took them through thick and thin… through business building (the family owns A1 Clothing Store downtown Kingston)
I hope you enjoy these photographs - mostly candids - and I hope it brings some emotion to you. Maybe your grandparents or parents have been together a while, or maybe you and your partner have been in love for decades.. or hope to be!
Life is so wonderful.
There’s nothing that really says we ought to be in love with the same human being for the rest of our lives.
People should be free to live life as they would like!
But what an extra beautiful gift it is when it turns out that your life’s partner has been with you for more than six decades…
“it hasn’t always been easy,” libby said in her speech to Bernie.
But they made it, regardless. ❤️
Much Love and respect!