Maralyn and Matthew married one another at the Historic Alabama Theater on a beautiful Saturday in June.  Their day was full of joy, raw emotion, and lots of appreciation and respect for family.  You may remember their engagement session, which included Maralyn’s son, Ethan, who was then 12, but is now a full-fledged teenager.  I remember how important it was to both Maralyn and Matthew that Ethan be a part of the session — she even asked for a second sneak peek that included him.  They recognize that their marriage is a joining of 3 lives and made sure that Ethan was also a special part of their wedding day.  I have tremendous respect for this couple… it takes a real man to raise a child as his own.  Matthew and I have known one another since our days at Carolina, and even though we weren’t super-close friends then, I am proud of the person he has become.

Big thanks to Elizabeth Ann of Elizabeth Ann Studios for keeping me company and shooting along-side me.

Maralyn and Matthew’s wedding included a cord of three strands ceremony.  Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”  The braiding of the ropes symbolizes the union of God, the husband and wife. Beautiful, huh?

Maralyn danced with her son, Ethan, at the start of the reception.  I am going to go ahead and admit that my mommy gene got the best of me… I almost lost it. It was such a special and memorable moment…

…and then Matthew danced with his mom.   Seeing both ends of the spectrum of love — a mother for a her son; a son for his mother… so special.

And then this happened!! TOTALLY unexpected.. no more tears here. Get it, Maralyn!!