A Forty Year Vow Renewal

Becky and Don chose Carl House for their forty year vow reunion, in Auburn, Ga. I have never witnessed such a God centered ceremony, like this one. The day started off to be a very cold, dark and gloomy day with scattered thunderstorms. You’d never know how nasty the day was when this family entered the venue. Becky has the warmest smile and Don was making jokes as long as you’re willing to listen. I could tell, within minutes, the sun follows them wherever they go.

This was a forty year vow renewal, with only their children, along with their spouses and grandchildren in attendance. As I learned by listening to the vows, Becky and Don met when she was nineteen years old. Don was a man of God, who grew up in church. He played music for the church, sang with the church and even did mentorship with his church. Through his journey, he met Becky at church. She was nineteen and trying to understand who God was. With Don’s help and guidance, she grew into Christianity, became saved and would later marry Don.

Their son officiated the ceremony. There were a lot of tears, laughs and so many gracious, wonderful memories of their love story. As an outsider, I definitely felt God’s presence around them. As the photographer, it comforted my soul to see the grandchildren tend to their parents, so lovingly, as the children of this couple cried and recall all of God’s love upon their life together. With each story of their past, the wedding couple shared a kleenex and lovingly wiped tears from each other’s faces.

So many times, we as Christians, hear how church is a place for the perfect. Well, in this hour, it was such an honor for me to hear how church for this couple was a healing place for a broken heart. Church was a safe haven for someone with a broken home, a broken soul and spirit. During the darkest hour of this person’s life, they found light and love and a greater purpose for their life than they could’ve ever imagined on their own. There were so many take aways I received from photographing this vow renewal. I will always remember this night and this couple. I can only hope and pray my children turn out as grateful and proud of me, my husband and God, as Becky and Don’s children are of them.

Toward the end of the ceremony, the Groom got down on one knee and asked Becky to spend the rest of her life with him. He thanked her for the most wonderful forty years and asked for forty more. Oh…My…God!!!!! I thought my heart was going to explode. As soon as he recomposed himself, the harpist started playing “you are my sunshine.” This hit home because it is a song I sing to my daughter all the time. Well, this night, as the harpist played the song, the family gathered in a circle and sang the lyrics together. At the end of the song, they embraced in a hug and told each other they loved each other. Chills went down my spine. When the ceremony was over, the Groom grabbed his Bride and everyone danced their way into the reception area.

This was a glorious night. It will live in my memory bank forever. I feel so honored to have been asked to serve this couple. I definitely gained more from them than they gained from me. It was an honor and a privilege to cross paths with such Godly people who share God’s word so openly. Becky and I have sent messages back and forth a few times after my job was completed. I feel so blessed to hear their love story and I pray I can inspire others in the way they inspired me.

Becky did a surprise first look with the grandkids. They felt special being able to see her before their grandpa saw her.