Joseph & Victoria | An epic love story vow renewal in Paris

Joseph & Victoria | An epic love story vow renewal in Paris

I was blessed and honored to photograph a special vow renewal in Paris for a lovely couple living in Rhode Island. I love vow renewals, because I think they’re very important. Everyone makes a fuss about the wedding, which they should. But it’s always presented as the Biggest Day of Your Life, and it is a big day, but I’d like to think there are MANY big days in your life!

So what happens, you have your ONE BIG DAY and then it’s over? No more big days to enjoy in life? I disagree. Marriage is a journey, not a destination. It’s not easy, because life is not easy. It’s two distinct people coming together, pledging to support each other along the way. Don’t you deserve to not only celebrate the day you were married, but the journey along the way?

Joseph and Victoria have been married for 40 years. They have four grown children and have lived an extraordinary life. What I learned about their love story was incredibly touching. They met when Victoria was just 12 years old and Joseph was 16 years old. This reminded me of the time I had a crush on a 14-year old boy I knew, I think maybe I was 12 at the time, but he was out of my league. He didn’t know I existed. He would come over with his father to visit my father and I’d stare at him with a goofy look, and he’d smile at me but thought I was just a weirdo kid, I’m sure of it.

This was not the case for Joseph and Victoria, in fact, they fell in love at this young age and became “boyfriend and girlfriend”, in the most innocent of ways. They told me their parents weren’t too happy in the beginning of the relationship, but their love would not be denied, and after being in each other’s lives since those young ages, they’ve now been married since 1982 and have a beautiful family of their own. It was a story that touched my heart and reminded me of the movie The Notebook, a little bit, the part about falling in love young.

Traveling as a couple now, with the children grown, they wanted to come to Paris and see this beautiful city, and while there, renew their vows. They hired officiant and ordained minister Michelle Wahila from Ruffled by Grace to craft a deeply personal ceremony for them.

Victoria hired me as their photographer, and from the very outset, I knew I really liked her. She was so easy to communicate with, had a vision for her day, and trusted me to also create a day for her that she and Joseph would love.

We met in the morning, on a sunny June day, in the gardens of Trocadero, with an amazing view of the famous Eiffel Tower. There, amidst the green grass and flower beds, the vow renewal took place. Joseph and Victoria had beautiful vow renewal booklets they ordered on Etsy, and read their vows to each other.

Wow, this was tough! Their vows were so powerful, and so loving, so sweet, that it was all I could do to keep from sobbing. This is what love looks like. True love, love that has stood the test of time, through all the good in life, and the bad patches. These two beautiful people pledged again their love to each other, as they continue their love story for the next 40 years.

Wow, I love what I do! To be able to capture these intimate, beautiful moments between people? How could I not love that? How could I not feel incredibly blessed, thankful, and humbled? Joseph and Victoria arrived to Paris and showed me again what real love looks like.

After the ceremony, we went all around town to create some beautiful memories. Victoria looked absolutely stunning in her gown, and I joked that I hoped no one from Vogue saw her, because if they did, they’d scoop her up and put her in the magazine and she may have to stay in Paris.

Joseph, for his part, was super handsome in his suit and beautiful tie.

We traveled by private car to several Eiffel Tower locations, including along the river, and Bir Hakeim bridge. Then, we stopped at the most beautiful bridge in Paris, Pont Alexandre III. Moving on, we took in the grandeur of the Louvre Museum and nearby Tuileries Gardens, and then finished at the super stunning Luxembourg Gardens.

Yes, it was super sunny. Yes, it was getting warm. But Joseph and Victoria were great sports, and I had so much fun showing them around Paris and dazzling them with my trivial facts and figures. Not only am I passionate about my clients, but I’m passionate about France, and Paris, in particular. I’m thrilled to show clients around the city, or if you come to Provence, I’m happy to share what I know with you as well.

The time came to say goodbye to Joseph and Victoria, but I really didn’t want to. They’re such a special couple, and this day filled my heart with absolute joy!