Sometimes in the midst of overwhelming uncertainty and diminished hope, you experience something that totally restores your faith in humanity. 

Like most of you, I have been hunkered down for the last few weeks, working from home. The days can be tedious, and not knowing when a return to normalcy might come, it’s like a giant gray raincloud has descended upon us. There is so much we don’t know right now. Social distancing, layoffs, kids out of school, businesses temporarily shuttered, and plans being cancelled just about everywhere, have all become the norm. The collective angst and tension are palpable if you haven’t noticed. One gray day follows the next right now. It will get better we are told, but when?

For me, the getting better started this past weekend.

I live across the street from a public park in Exeter, NH with a really cool gazebo that sits right along the Squamscott River. Looking out my front window Saturday morning, I noticed a Bride and Groom in the gazebo getting ready to do a first look. It was just the two of them and what appeared to be a friend helping them. As a wedding photographer, my interest was piqued as I watched from afar. Following what appeared to be an exchange of their vows, the friend (whose name is Chris as you will learn shortly!) then starts taking photos of them with his cell phone. I'm like “I gotta go over there and see if they want me to take some quick portraits of them.” 

I head over, congratulate them, and tell them I'm a wedding photographer who happens to live right across the street, and I'd be more than happy to photograph a handful of newlywed portraits for them if they’d like. They are thrilled and I go get my cameras and some lights.

You see, Sam and Josh were supposed to get married in Las Vegas at the Flamingo on Saturday March 28th. It was a day that they had been carefully planning for some time, as anyone who has been married can certainly attest to. It’s a lot of work! Their wedding was to include their parents (Sam’s family is from NH, and Josh’s family is from Ohio), siblings, their flower girl, Sam’s Ohio-based photographer friend, as well as a few of their closest friends. 20 people total. They envisioned their special day being more of a personal/private wedding ceremony and mini vacation filled with Las Vegas day trips, gambling, fun themed dinners and of course, their wedding ceremony in the gardens at the Flamingo. 

But Covid-19 thwarted all of their plans. Sam & Josh canceled their Las Vegas wedding two weeks ago when they understood the seriousness of the situation. They simply did not feel comfortable asking their friends and family to travel. They quickly pivoted and created Plan B that involved everyone meeting in Niagara Falls, NY instead. For Sam, it was kind of perfect — a spot directly in between their friends and family in Ohio, and their family here in NH. AND, a location everyone could drive to! Then a week ago, Niagara contacted them and canceled because everything was shutting down there too. With Plan B falling through, Sam admits to their experiencing some justifiable sadness and disappointment. They just couldn’t comprehend what was happening! Then, on top of all of this, each was furloughed from their jobs. “It was like our entire world completely changed in 3 short weeks, “ said Sam.

Sam and Josh persevered. Sam did some research, and found out that they could get a marriage license in NH here in short order, which led to their ultimate plan. Sam’s mom brought up the idea of doing something . . .even something small, to make their day special. Not wanting to exclude anyone, they made the decision to proceed with their special day here in NH. Just the two of them. In that cool gazebo on the river with the sun at their backs, they recited their vows that they had written to one another, and exchanged their rings. 

“We just decided that no matter what, we were not waiting another day, months, or years to be married. We’re so thrilled we did it. We’ve both had pits in our stomachs for weeks, but Saturday, every care and concern drifted away,” Sam says.

“We were able to get our marriage license in Exeter last week, and they were able to have someone who is ordained from the town hall, sign it. And I asked my good friend Chris to be there to help, and take some photos. Josh and I felt bad having only my family here in NH and not his (they live in Ohio and were under quarantine as so many are right now), so Chris was a good mutual party person -- and he helped me get ready that morning too”.

 At this point, Sam & Josh are supposed to have a big wedding reception on May 16th at Sam’s in-law’s cabin in Ohio. They are calling it their Marriage Celebration with approximately 150 people. But that is still up in the air at this point. They are holding out hope for a couple of weeks, and are prepared to postpone once again if they must. 

“We can’t wait to celebrate with our friends and family in the near future! Hopefully May happens or we’ll just postpone! It’s much easier emotionally to be postponing a party than my marriage to Josh.”

Sometimes it’s funny the way things turn out. Serendipity can be sneaky -- sometimes a blessing. I definitely did not think I’d be photographing a Bride and Groom again for some time yet to come. But Sam & Josh changed that. And their amazing positivity, smiles, and genuine happiness cleared away so many gray clouds on Saturday, helping me see the blue skies that will undoubtedly return again.

Congratulations Samantha and Josh! I wish you nothing but the best.