fotoNovella : Artful Photo-Stories » Shannon Boettcher Photography

It seems I’m photographing an entourage of ‘friend weddings’ in 2011. Not just clients who become friends, but friends who have watched my photography business grow, who have supported and encouraged me, who dreamed-up a business name with me and were sounding boards for each logo design. Friends who put up with the endless point-and-shoot pictures I took back in college with only minimal complaining (Oh my…the shutter on that camera was so slow they’d have to hold the pose for 5 seconds before the camera would actually take a picture! See…good friends!) Anneke was one of those friends. She was a FFA state officer with my sister (who will be a bridesmaid at Anneke’s wedding-YAY!)and later my roommate in college.

Anneke met Russel in high school and they dated all through college. They found ways to be together even when life took them in different directions. When Anneke did a study abroad in Spain, Russel met her in Greece for a long weekend. Then they did a  term together at Texas A&M. Anneke joined him on his fire crew for a year & now when he’s off on fires all summer, someone usually drives the long miles one way or the other so that they can see each other on the few days he gets off in the summer. And when their opinions were in vastly different directions over a certain tattoo…well…they made it together through that too

In anticipation of their wedding, I’ve asked Anneke to blog about her ‘bride’ experience periodically over the next year. Anneke blogged this on November 5th.

323 days until I become Mrs. Griffith—according to The Knot. I am so excited to be marrying the love of my life, after nearly 4 ½ years of dating. To say that I was anxious to be engaged would be a dire understatement. I think a more accurate description of my pre-engagement summer behavior might be more like ‘chomping at the bit’, ‘feverish’ or ‘overbearing’. At first, I felt an enormous amount of guilt right after the engagement, because in knowing my future husband I should have expected no less than perfect timing, perfect ring, and perfect moment… Which is exactly what happened, thus my feelings of guilt. But as I talked to other newly engaged/married, or soon-to-be, I realized that I am not the only of my species that is solely focused on marriage and sparkly left hand accessories after an appropriate amount of dating. And comparatively, I was NOT as bad as the gal who matter-of-factly told her boyfriend, “MY ring better be bigger than HERS”. You know what? I was downright tame.

So now, it’s on to planning, visiting, tasting, trying and investigating. I found my dress the first day we looked, the third dress I tried on. And guess what? The people on Say Yes to the Dress aren’t faking it, because I cried, my mom cried, and 1/8 of my bridesmaids cried. It’s a beautiful dress: cathedral train, gathered beading on the bodice, complemented by a sweetheart back and neckline. I’m telling you girls—check out the bridal shows before you go into expensive boutiques to find your dress. Dress of my dreams? 70% off. SALE. Not kidding. I’m all for playing the I’m-your-only-daughter-ever card, but there isn’t any money growing in the dead flowerpots on my front porch, and the dress is absolutely beautiful—for me.

As the next 3.22 x 10² days drift slowly by, I’m looking forward to following up on suggestions to friends for vendors, wine, registries, cakes and DJs. Everyone has an opinion, but I’ve figured out that the day is about me—and, oh yeah, the man that I’m going to marry. So even though I may love (and he may hate) the idea of peacock feathers spewing out from every angle of our cake, that doesn’t exactly emphasize the things that I love about my betrothed or the strength and happiness that we give to each other. NOR, do the ideas of well meaning friends who don’t love the tiara headband, strangers on the street who just think you are weird or the hairdresser at the salon who just LAHVED that green sash whats-her-name wore at HER wedding. But even so, as long as there is a firm ability to put your foot down, say no, and appreciate their thoughtfulness, creativity and sincerity with wanting your day to be über-special. I know that this year is going to be an amazing way to reconnect with the friends that I have asked to stand beside me, the family that haven’t seen me, and the last bit of my life where my primary role is as a daughter—soon to be replaced with wife.

Bridesmaid dress shopping tomorrow! And hopefully events to report…