Our First Year Wedding Anniversary

Exactly one year ago today, on October 14, 2012, I married my best friend under the lamp posts and hanging Spanish moss of Jackson Square Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, and became Mrs. Jonathan Freeman.

And what a year it has been! I can’t even begin to count the ways our lives have changed – and all for the better! I cannot even wrap my head around where God has brought us, and how He has blessed us, let alone put it into words.

For our first year wedding anniversary, we visited New Orleans again, but this time with an infant in tow. It was surreal, walking the same streets, eating at the same restaurants, standing in the spot where we said “I Do”… but this time with a precious little munchkin looking around bright eyed and curious at the sights and sounds and smells.

Last year we had strangers congratulating us on our wedding, this year we had strangers congratulating us on the beautiful baby. I didn’t see that one coming.

Jonathan and I agreed months ago that we would like to incorporate the Victorian Era custom of gifting one another according to the traditional yearly “themes”, and giving the traditional anniversary flowers for our future wedding anniversary celebrations.

The tradition of giving specific anniversary gifts based on the number of years a couple has been married dates back to the Middle Ages, but the Victorian Era (1837-1901) was especially focused on creating traditions. Although no one is certain how the traditional list of symbolic anniversary gifts originated, the gifts according to year are pretty well established.

The traditional first year anniversary flower is the carnation, and the first anniversary gift theme is paper.

In the language of flowers, carnations are associated with love, distinction and fascination.

Specifically, white carnations suggest pure love and good luck. Light red symbolizes admiration. Dark red represents deep love and affection. Purple represents fascination. And pink carnations carry the greatest significance, beginning with the belief that they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary’s tears – making them the symbol of a mother’s undying love.

Jonathan got me a bouquet with each of these colors, and while I picked out the bouquet with him on more of an “oooh shiny” factor, rather than thinking of the symbolism behind the petals, it all seems rather fitting now that the stems are sitting in my coffee thermos vase in the kitchen. I’d say each of the meanings apply to our relationship this first anniversary.

And as for the paper theme: Jonathan and I bought each other, as a mutual gift, a large hand-bound linen photo book with all of our wedding photos. The book is gorgeous and the craftsmanship of the book itself is a work of art – not to mention the photos inside, which feature a mix of the photos our wedding photographer took, and photos that Jonathan and I took on the weekend and day of our wedding.

I am still so desperately and hopelessly in love with my husband. We’re still starry-eyed kids at heart, daydreaming about how we’ll fulfill the rest of the 75 traditional wedding anniversary gift themes. And there is no doubt in my mind that we will.

“Once in a awhile, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.”

Martha + Eric Wedding in Tulare, California

This was one of the last few weddings we shot before we had to wrap up business and prepare for whatever the Navy has in store for us! While Jonathan entered the DEP (Delayed Entry Program) with the Navy and had a shipping out date of June, we were trying to leave earlier if possible, which made advertising and booking weddings over the summer pretty much impossible. I didn’t think I’d miss photographing weddings so much! But I really do. I can’t wait till we’re settled again and business can resume as normal.

Anyhow, the ceremony took place at Martha and Erics church, and the reception was held at the Heritage Center in Tulare. We stopped by a tiny park in Visalia that had a cottage like building to do some portrait shots – it had a very fairy tale quality to it! The wedding took place at the beginning of the year and I really like the crisp, cool, wintry blue undertones the permeated the entire event. Also! This was the weekend that I found out I was expecting baby Tessa. ^_^

Brittany + Shad Wedding in New Orleans, Louisiana

Jonathan and I shot this beautiful destination wedding in New Orleans, Louisiana just ONE DAY before our own wedding! Brittany and Shad had their ceremony at Jackson Square Park and the had a Second Line parade that meandered through the gorgeous French Quarter to their reception at the House of Blues. Maybe it was the festive N’awlins air, or maybe this group is just exceptionally friendly and awesome, but these guys made us feel like family while we photographed their wedding.

While I never really saw spending the day before my wedding working as a chore (I saw it as a welcome distraction to keep my mind off of the madness soon to ensue with our wedding!) it ended up being one of the coolest things we could have done. We didn’t have a big enough group (or budget) to validate a second line, but we desperately wanted to take part in one.. and we got to sing at the top of our lungs, wave our arms and snap some gorgeous pictures for Brittany and Shad in their second line! It was a blast!

And the reception? Absolutely stunning. The atmosphere, the lighting, the live music, the food, the booze… it was the epitome of a New Orleans wedding, which (and we may be biased since we chose it as our wedding location) is one of the coolest weddings you can have. 😉

Victoria + Derek Wedding in Shaver Lake, California

I photographed this wedding right before Jonathan and I had our wedding, so I was in ultra romance mode for these shots! I loved the soft yellow and orange autumn theme of this cultured country wedding. The ceremony took place at a tiny rustic church in the middle of the mountains by a stream, and the reception was at the church hall across the street. It was secluded and nestled back off of the road. It was a classic American wedding, exactly what you’d picture when you think of when you hear “Here Comes The Bride”.

Krista + Evan Wedding at Royal Oaks Club in Kingsburg, California

This was a beautiful early fall wedding and reception hosted at the Royal Oaks Club in Kingsburg, California. The couple and their family spent the entire week at the resort, camping, swimming, fishing, and having a great time leading up to the rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception. So the atmosphere was very festive, everyone had already been on a prolonged vacation! After the reception the bride and groom took a midnight float down the river.. I was like, “How do you guys still have energy?!”

I’d have to say my favorite detail of the wedding was the photos of loved ones and old family wedding photos on charms around the bouquet, and the bottle of wine they had friends sign and then sealed into a box for a later anniversary!

Shauna + David Wedding Aboard Princess Cruises in Alaska

My best friend Shauna (check out her blog, Epic Adventures of an Ordinary Life, she’s awesome!) and Jonathan’s best friend David got married on this beautiful Princess Cruise in Alaskan waters last year, just a couple of months before our wedding in New Orleans! I was the maid of honor and Jonathan was the best man – and Shauna was my maid of honor and David was Jonathans best man! Fun, right? David and Shauna had a Princess Cruise photographer for their ceremony and portrait shots, but I decided to take some reception / playing around the ship shots during the celebration. (I can’t help myselffffff!!!)

We had an absolute blast on this trip. I am a huge supporter of small destination weddings! They are my favorite to attend, my favorite to shoot, and Jonathan and I absolutely loved our destination wedding! Not only was the location amazing for the ceremony and reception, but the vacation aspect is already built in. It makes for wonderful memories. ^_^

Sarah + Kyle Wedding in North Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Jonathan and I had so much fun shooting this beautiful and (though it does not look it) largely DIY wedding! Sarah and Kyle are such a beautiful couple, not only did they have adorable personalities but they are impossibly photogenic. This is simply the prettiest Lake Tahoe ceremony and reception site that we have visited to date. It’s secluded and woodsy, yet close enough to the Lake to go play in the water. And yes, I am a sucker for paper lanterns and twinkle lights.

I couldn’t get enough of all of the tiny touches that made this wedding personalized and unique – from the guitar guest book, to the specialty cake topper and personalized “getaway bikes” to the touches in wardrobe and decor. Sarah did as good a job with bargain hunting and organizing her wedding as some paid wedding coordinators I’ve worked with! ^_^

Christine + Rick Wedding in South Lake Tahoe, California

Not only was this a destination wedding for me to shoot, but it was one for the bride and groom (and family!) that flew in from all over the country. Out of all of their guests, only 5 or so were actually from California! The ceremony and reception took place at Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe. The day was beautiful! I especially loved the sixpence in the shoe and I thought the fabric and brooch bouquet was so unique and chic. I also loved that the cake had little paw prints on it for the animals they left back home. This is one of the many weddings we have been lucky enough to shoot in the Tahoe and Reno area on the California / Nevada border. Each time we go we fall in love with the locale more and more!

Cathy + Fermin Wedding in Clovis, California

Cathy and Fermin chose me as their wedding photographer because they were having a traditional Laotian wedding with more “costume attire” and they liked our cosplay images. They wanted someone who would capture the creative side and details of the day!

Here’s a quick rundown on the traditions pictured above: The bride started off her day in a regular white wedding dress so she could have some American classic portraits and images. Then she changed into a traditional Lao silk sinh (Lao skirt), and silk blouse, and had her hair tied up in a special way with gold decoration. The groom also went from a tuxedo to traditional silk shirt and silk salong (a pair of baggy pants).

When they arrived at the ceremony / reception site (a hotel in Clovis, California), the groom and his party were met by the bride’s relatives at a side door where they playfully prevented the groom from entering till they granted him permission. The groom paid them to open the doors and after some customary questions such as: “Where did you come from? What did you come here for? What did you bring with you?” etc. they invited him in and led him to his bride.

The centerpiece for the ceremony is known as the pha khoun, and the wedding ceremony is known as the baci ceremony. After everyone is settled in, the baci or sou khuan ceremony begins. This involves the chanting by the master of ceremony (mor phon), the egg feeding (the bride and the groom feed each other an egg) and the tying of white strings on wrists to unite the couple. At the end of the baci, the elder relatives lead the couple to somma, a customary asking for forgiveness and thanking of parents and elder relatives of both parties. This process involves the giving of small money gifts wrapped inside banana leaves, together with flowers and a pair of candles. During this ceremony, the elders, including the parents and relatives of both parties, give the couple good wishes.

After the baci is over, it is time for the party to begin when the guests are invited to eat, drink and dance! I had a lot of fun being able to capture such a rich cultural tradition!

Jessica + David Wedding in Fresno, California

Jonathan and I shot this wedding and reception hosted at a private residence in Fresno, California. The property was absolutely gorgeous, with a koi pond, bonsai and succulent garden, manicured lawn and pristine grounds. We enjoyed shooting this gorgeous event! The family was clearly a tight knit group, and as always, it was a thrill seeing the beauty and magic of two families becoming one. The wonderful thing about being a wedding photographer is that I truly love my job. I love going to weddings. I love seeing the joy of the moment and capturing it on digital film.