I’ve been struggling with how to open today’s real Maryland wedding feature. When I got an email saying “you have a submission from An Endless Pursuit“, I was immediately elated because their submissions are some of my absolute FAVORITES. Steve’s email outlined a perfect Capitol Romance submission:
“The gist of the big day was: Two desperately in love individuals enjoying the company of those they cherish for a weekend, surrounded by elements which represent who they are as a couple, individuals, and members of a cherished community (i.e. having a whole lotta fun while immersed in mother flippin’ beautiful rustic chic details)”
And then he explained why this wedding was so extra special: the bride’s family suffers from a degenerative muscular disease and the reality is that they don’t have much time left – so every moment they spend together is that much more precious. The bride, Sarah, said, “If my brothers are still standing by [the wedding], it will probably be the last event they do.”
The enormity and gravity of this is hard to capture in words. It really puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? I mean, for me, it makes a lot of the wedding industry fairly trivial and inconsequential in comparison to what it should truly be about: two desperately in love individuals enjoying the company of the ones they cherish, surrounded by the elements that represent who they are ….
It’s not about the money, it’s not about the blogs, it’s not about the details. It’s about the love. The love between two individuals. The love between a family. The love between you and your friends. The love between these things is what a REAL wedding is.
Maybe it’s this gloomy foggy day, but I am having a hard time not tearing up through writing this. It’s just an incredibly moving story, and I am just emotional that Sarah & Colin were brave and amazing enough to want to share it with not only me, but my readers. Sarah & Colin, your celebration of love & life through your amazing Maryland Summer Camp wedding will be a post I will come back to again and again when I am frustrated with the wedding industry. I will read this and look at the insanely stunning images An Endless Pursuit captured, and I will be reminded of what weddings truly mean. So thank you, times a million, for sharing.
Sarah & Colin’s Celebration of Love & Life, Maryland Summer Camp Wedding
Vendors
Photographer: Â An Endless Pursuit | Dress Designer: Kenneth Pool | Makeup Artist: Beyond Brides Hair & Makeup | Event Venue: Camp Puh’Tok | Submitted via Two Bright Lights
From their photographer Steve (one half of An Endless Pursuit):
This may have been our favorite wedding of the year, plus they found us on Capitol Romance! Sarah’s immediate family suffers from a degenerative muscular disease, Myotonic Dystrophy. In order to truly celebrate family together, including those members that might not be around much longer, Sarah and Colin rented a summer camp in northern Maryland for a full weekend of fun and festivities with all of their dearest family and friends. The guests slept in log cabins in the woods (including me). Everyone stayed up late each night with a celebration around a bonfire with s’mores and beer. There was a sunday pool party to relax after the big wedding day on Saturday.
From the groom, Colin:
“I have spent many nights trying to figure out where all of her patience and persistence came from, let alone why in the world she was so intent on loving me. I have yet to answer that question, but I do know at least that she loves me almost as much as I love her which is a whole freakin’ lot! So as of this point in my life, two and a half years later, I am now the most honest man you will meet, I am no longer a smoker (YAY!!!!!!!), my meals consist of half vegetables, I finished my bachelors degree in math, I rarely drink more than what I can handle, and my family and I are getting along wonderfully. This is all in addition to the tons of adventures Sarah and I always end up on. So, in the end, I owe Sarah my life because I will now live a long and very happy life. If it weren’t for her, God only knows what trouble I would have gotten into. She truly is my everything.”
^Are we crying again yet?! (I mean, I am).
Click inside for SO MUCH MORE of this amazing, moving Maryland wedding – including their beautiful handmade details inside the summer camp & some more beautiful portraits.
Congratulations Sarah & Colin! Thank you again for sharing your amazing wedding and your amazing story with us. A special thanks again to An Endless Pursuit as well, for sharing their gorgeous pictures of today’s Maryland wedding feature.
11 comments
Oh my. Thank you for sharing this- it really does strip everything away and show the most important part of what weddings are all about. Kind of takes your breath away. These photos are stunning (that is the most amazing dress shot!).
Jenna – my HONOR to share (as I mentioned in the post). I feel completely the way you do! Just an insane reality check & reminder of what is important.
Wow this really puts things into perspective. I totally enjoyed this post. It’s so refreshing, and even more beautiful actually, to see a wedding based on love and family. Not the fanciest flowers or most elaborate details. And in its simplicity, I think this wedding is one of the most spectacular I’ve seen.
<3 you said it beautifully Wendy! thank you!
The flowers were one of my favorite parts :) All the men picked them the morning of the wedding at Talmar Gardens and Horticultural Therapy Center (www.talmar.org). It’s an incredible organization that does educational and therapy programming for people with special needs and disabilities.
Oh, Bree. This was beautiful. Simple, beautiful, heartfelt…I absolutely loved it.
<3 thank you Rebecca!
Love everything about this…the beautiful, enduring love these two share, the simple, heartfelt details, and of course, the emotional images! Whew. This is the best thing I’ve seen on the internet all day!
<3
Where was this wedding held?
Camp Puh Tok!