Four Photos - A Wedding Story
In June of 1971, my parents, Bob and Sue, packed up their car and drove to a quiet town in Maryland to elope. The officiant and his wife were the only witnesses to their vows. Afterward, they escaped to Shenandoah National Park for an all too brief honeymoon. Just weeks later, my dad—drafted earlier that year—shipped out to Vietnam, their new life together suddenly put on hold.
Only four photos exist from those moments.
They have always been beautiful and important to me, but when we unexpectedly lost my mom two years ago this week, they became my most treasured possession. They made me reflect deeply on my career as a photographer. What photos do couples cherish most? What makes an image so compelling, so treasured? These pictures, all taken on instant peel-apart film, are far from conventionally perfect. Yet the sense of place, time, and emotion they hold is profound—palpable.
Mom in her homemade wedding dress, effortlessly cool in her hat.
Dad’s face, so youthful and full of hope.
Their hands, sweetly entwined as they show off their rings.
Their marriage certificate—still hanging on their bedroom wall—proudly displayed as they share wedding cake.
Mom gazing at Dad , behind the camera, with pure love and devotion in her “bridal portrait.”
So much depth in four small frames. They endured more heartbreak than any young couple should, yet these images are evidence of their choice to create joy, even in uncertainty. That is no small feat.
For over 50 years, they remained sweethearts, bound by an unshakable love—until the very end, and in every way that still matters beyond.
