Love in the time of Covid
March 28th, 2020 was suppose to be the first wedding of the year for me and it was a special one. I had met Taryn and Chris over a year and a half ago when she sent me a DM through my Instagram. Just through a few messages I knew this was a couple I wanted to work with. We decided to meet at a local Starbucks to discuss details of the wedding. And we spoke as if we knew each other from before. After that we emailed one another about their engagement session and things were great. Their engagement session was during the summer of 2019 and it was stunning and so much fun!
But things took such a drastic change. The world as we knew it was going to come to a complete halt. Everything was on shutdown! Including weddings. I wish I didn't have to be this dramatic but things didn't seem to get any better (they still aren't). But alas, LOVE ALWAYS WINS! With just a few weeks to their wedding, Taryn and Chris got it together, reached out to their venue, St. Clements Castle in Portland, CT who so graciously allowed the couple to do an outdoor ceremony with just the absolute minimum of people allowed during that time according to the CDC and state guidelines- I think the max was 10 and outdoors only! So from a wedding with over 100 guests they shortened it to just 10 but let me tell you it was perfect!
Their parents and siblings and a few family and friends on a ZOOM call were all in attendance as they both said their vows. Tayrn was walked down by her father and serenaded by a piper, something that she was very excited to have in her wedding and something I've never experienced before so I was so happy that he was still able to perform at her original wedding day. They also had planned to have a live painting of their first dance done by Vesna Longton but instead she created a beautiful painting of their intimate ceremony as they will share their first dance on their new wedding day. The day was slightly rainy and I don't think anyone even realized it. I think we were just all so happy to be able to celebrate the union of these two beautiful souls despite the chaos. At that very moment the world just took a break for these two and they were able to say I do on their original wedding day with the people they loved the most surrounding them and that was worth it all!
Everything else was pure joy and elation. We stayed outdoors under a small covering where a cake and some champagne awaited the now, Mr. and Mrs. Longinott. They toasted, they laughed, popped some champagne, cut the cake and kissed. It might not have been how they imagined their big day to be but this one was one for the books! I have the upmost respect and love for this couple and I am beyond honored to have documented this moment in their life and I can't wait to celebrate with them next year! Congratulations Taryn and Chris!
