In Good Times and Bad

It's 'Hug a Vet' weekend not 'Hug a Fiancee' weekend. But, that hasn't stopped the world from getting married this weekend. Your looking at one downright disenchanted videographer nonplussed by shiny, happy people. After playing videographer for three weddings in the last 72 hours I'm ready to elope.

Wedding #1 was a real trip. While spraying the groom coming down the aisle from behind the best man, I fell backwards into a giantic ceramic urn sitting atop a table stand filled with lovely pink and white gardenias. I caught the vase in midair while simulteaneously videotaping the procession. I was shaking in my shoes as the flower girls and best man looked around wondering where the sound of falling water was coming from. Under my breath, in great desperation, I whispered "please, sir, bestman, whatever your name is, help!" His quick reaction saved the whole ceremony as he uprighted the vase just in time for the couple to start reciting their vows.

Wedding #2 was another disaster . Following a smooth exchange of wedding vows and introductions at the reception, the first couples dance began. Again, while simultaneously videotaping this key moment I backed into another tall antique-looking vase filled with an aromatic bouquet of carnations, daisies and lillys. This time there was nobody to help avert the calamity. The porceline vase tumbled to the ground rolling about on the hardwood floor. Oops. Thankfully, the bride and groom were too engrossed into each other to even notice.

Wedding #3 was the last straw. Rarely do I shoot a wedding where everything goes smoothly. No ceremony is orchestrated, planned or rehearsed so odds are good that something will be bumped, bruised or missed. It's never on purpose but inevietably the deacon/priest/reverand will block my view of the exchange of rings or maybe the flower girl will bump the second camera out of balance. This time it was my Lithium battery that failed me during the critical "garder removal" at the reception. Mr. Newlywed was inching his way up his new wife's leg when, boom, the light on my camera went dead and we're all sitting in the dark. By the time I raced to reload, Mr. Newlywed was happily prancing about the dance floor with a white garder in hand. Ugghh.

Shooting weddings is one of those "toughest job you'll ever love" projects - unfortunately the only love I ever feel is between the bride and groom.