The Turmoil of Engagement Photos

Well, folks, there is a lot to catch you all up on, but tonight I’m only focusing on one thing: engagement photos. So we have now been engaged for going on six months, and have yet to do our engagement photos. As much as we are procrastinators, this is not our fault!
 
Let’s rewind to late July. In July, we were given the name of a photographer. We did our research and we LOVED everything he did. Come August, Jenna started conversing with him via email. It was at this time he said that he was super busy and headed to Burning Man, but he would contact us after that to make arrangements. I’d like to take a brief moment to now tell you that I think Burning Man ruins my life. I know a lot of people think it’s the greatest thing on earth, but I just don’t get it! Not only does it make grocery shopping next to impossible all through the end of August and into the first of September, but I’m certain it is due to “The Man” that our photographer never got back to us due to all the “fun” he had. (Thank you for allowing me to rant). Moving on. I’m sure all of you out there are wondering why we didn’t just find someone else, well neither one of us handle change well and when we get something stuck in our heads, that’s the way it has to be, do damnit this was going to be our photographer! Come mid October, I took matters into my own hands and called the photographer, and he answered! I set up a meeting for the following evening and excitedly called Jenna to brag of my success. The next evening, Jenna had a work emergency, so that left me to meet with the photographer alone. So there I sat in the Starbucks inside Barnes & Noble by myself, waiting for a guy, whom I have no clue what he looks like, to show up. Next to me was sitting a man, who I swear, must have had schizophrenia, looking intensely through a book of serial killers while making vomiting noises. Needless to say, I was nervously sweating and cradling my murse like it could protect me from all evil. He showed up finally, and I instantly knew, he would be our photographer, hands down. His work was amazing! I went home, told Jenna all about it and we sent the check and the contract the next day… and then couldn’t get a hold of him again to set up a time to do engagement photos. Remember when I said that Jenna and I get an idea in our heads and can’t stray from it? Well we had our hearts said on pretty fall engagement photos: you know, with the leaves all golden, the grass with still a hint of green, and temperature still pleasant. I’m talking about the week where the leaves are still attached to the trees rather than plastered to wet asphalt, clogging gutters and just plain making a mess of the yard. Well living in Reno, that leaves us a week of opportunity for these perfect pictures to happen and the clock was counting down. After much pestering, we finally set the date for Sunday November 9th. We were elated to say the least; we started planning outfits – arguing over who got to wear obnoxious patterns in which shot- and I had an emergency hair appointment so I didn’t look a like the love child of a badger mating with a q-tip. And then it happened: the weekly weather forecast. Mother Nature is planning to take a dump on our day… literally… it’s suppose to snow. As I sat on the couch watching the howling wind rip the majority of golden leaves off the trees, I became incredibly angry. And by the time I walked out the door to go to work at 9:30pm and there were snow flurries hindering my ability to see due to the water stains on my glasses, I was absolutely livid! I know Jenna was equally depressed over the situation as she had made countless comments regarding our perfect day of photos being ruined by the impending weather. But then as I was walking at work, with no other company besides my thoughts, I came to a realization: it didn’t matter. These pictures aren’t about the fall leaves or how cute we both look in our glasses, these pictures are being taken to depict our love for one another. These pictures are suppose to be proof of everything we have/will overcome, that we can find love and make it last regardless of being gay, that we are breaking the ugly stereotypes.  And that most importantly we have found each other our planning to spend our lives together, regardless of society’s views. Whether it’s snowing, pelting us with ice, or us playing Frisbee with frozen leaves, we love each other, and that’s what will be apparent in our engagement photos. So for those of you who read this and those of you who support us, thank you. We are incredibly grateful. And bring it on Mother Nature because I have a peacoat and Ugg boots that I’m not afraid to rock!