R+J had their plans turned upside down by Coronavirus, so Rachel got incredibly creative and came up with an idea to do a caravan wedding to give their day some semblance of their original 50 person small wedding plans. So they prepared their ceremony set up, and planned to set up and tear down in the front yards of 5 houses so they could celebrate their marriage with their immediate family and not break any rules.
5 times they said their vows to each other. Promising over and over to one another and setting in the sincerity of their words to a whole new level.
Their first “official” ceremony where they became mr + mrs. was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. This was my first wedding back after 4 weeks of my world being turned upside down as a photographer. Not even knowing if this day was going to happen like we had planned it to. I just remember all of the emotions in the air during these moments of one of the most tender and sweetly heavy ceremonies. Knowing that just 2 weeks before this day – I was on a FaceTime with them, doing my best to remind them of what they’re doing this for. Reminding them of their joy, and sitting in the grief with them that this day that they’ve dreamed about was turned upside down.
I have to admit – I was definitely a little anxious leading up to this day. Smack dab in the middle of April, there were a lot of loud voices and I didn’t know what to do or how to move forward while being safe. But we pulled off this insane version of a wedding day that happened to become one of the greatest stories of my career.
At every ceremony R+J served communion to their loved ones, topped with fresh challah bread at the last ceremony made by Jordan’s mom. This day overwhelmed ALL of the emotions. Marrying grief and joy. Being grateful for what we were able to do that day, but also feeling the weight of the dark world around us.
After we finished the 3rd ceremony we made our way to McDonald’s (R+J’s favorite fast food spot) and had the perfect little lunch. Their shared their first dance inside the Mcdonald’s lobby and we ate outside and enjoyed the weather in the bed of the truck. With the first ceremony starting at 11am, and the last one being at 5pm, we had a long day we had to make it through.
We had an array of weather throughout the day – starting with an impending thunder storm the whole 2 hours before the first ceremony, some grumbling during the ceremony itself, to a clear sky day giving us the most glorious sunset to finish our newly married photos in.
This story had so many factors. Stick on nails (thanks to the lockdown), a few hair style changes because of the humidity, a traveling James Taylor vinyl they used as their guestbook, the wind knocking over the cute decorations, FaceTiming in loved ones who couldn’t be a part, ands stumbling across one of the most gorgeous wildflower fields after realizing my original location didn’t have access to the sunset.
It was an adventure from beginning to end. And I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience.
This season has taught me so much about the very basics of what I do, and who I do it for. It’s taught me how to redirect people to see the beauty in crazy circumstances and to recenter on what really matters. That, ladies + gentlemen, is where some of the sweetest memories shine through on an even greater level.
This day will stick with me for a long time. Rachel + Jordan – you two are one of a kind. Thanks for letting me be a part of this incredibly intimate day. Love you guys big.
Rachel Meagan is a North Texas Wedding Photographer based in the greater DFW area. She specializes in photographing ridiculously in-love couples who have a desire to document that love.
