The universe works in mysterious ways. When my husband insisted on dragging me to a Super Bowl party (I have tried repeatedly to love football, but I just can’t bring myself to do it), I could not have guessed that the universe was at work, conspiring to align my orbit with Bill and Lenen’s wedding path.
As I’m sure happens at Super Bowl parties all over the country, the men gravitated to the room with a TV the size of a garage door while the women sought refuge in a neighboring room to chat about “girl stuff” – like weddings – my favorite topic. The topic of weddings came up when Lenen, whom I had just met minutes before, asked what I did for a living. After gushing that I photograph weddings and am more addicted to them than I am to caffeine and sugar, she replied that she was currently in the throes of wedding planning. Being a crazy-busy, globe-trotting, time-is-precious kind of gal, Lenen booked her wedding vendors though one of those one-stop-shopping-type companies that offer photographers, DJs, videographers, and flowers.
I asked if she had a chance to meet with the photographer that would be shooting her wedding, and scoring points for that company, Lenen replied that she had. Her and Bill had their engagement session, were happy with the images, and thought it was a good personality match. I said that was excellent news because a good match between the photographer and the bridal couple can make all the difference on the day of the wedding, because the photographer is typically the only vendor that is with the couple all day long. If it’s not a good match, things can get . . .um. . .icky.
During this conversation, a mutual friend arrived with her adorable toddler in tow, and the subject quickly switched to how cute, charming, and crafty he was (he somehow managed to get his little Oliver Twist hands on my husband’s wallet). Soon after, I took my leave early to go home and spend time with my second husband, Adobe Photoshop.
The next day, I had a voicemail from Lenen. It began with “Gina, I don’t know if I’m laughing or crying over finding your website! Oh my gosh!”
Two days later, Lenen and Bill cancelled their contract with the one-stop-shop and booked with me.
As I’m fond of saying, the universe unfolds as it should. I could not have asked for a more fantastic couple than Lenen and Bill or a better location to work with on a day with nearly constant rain. Because of the rain, we arrived extra-early to make an indoor game plan, and Patrick, the event Manager at the Mill City Museum, took my team on a top-to-bottom tour of all the amazing indoor locations that the Mill has to offer. I nearly started drooling when he showed us the super-secret, roped-off, staff-only grain room. The light in that room was absolutely delicious. I wanted to capture it in a jar and eat it with a spoon, it was so yummy.
And Lenen and Bill were a photographer’s dream. They were up for anything – which I adore in a wedding couple. And they were full of energy, joy, generosity, affection, sincerity, humor and love - all of which I adore oodles and oodles. And look at them – they’re gorgeous! You can see from the images below why I’m over the moon about this wedding and why I’ve never been so happy to have been talked into going to a Super Bowl party. Thank you, sweet-talking husband. Thank you, sneaky universe. And most of all, thank you, fabulous Lenen & Bill.
All my best – Gina
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