So when we last left our beautiful couple they were standing at the altar exchanging heartfelt vows to each other. Promises to love each other with every breath, to respect each others’ uniqueness and individuality and treasure the love they were feeling at this very moment. It was so personal and so true that it almost made you feel as though you were peeking in on a moment that should be reserved for just the two of them. No one made a sound, just respectful observers to this beautiful scene.
Then Meredith and Richie presented a gift to every single person that was seated there in front of them. They both took a moment to read letters they had carefully prepared. Letters that were addressed, not to each other, but to the friends and family that were gathered with them at that moment. Letters that carefully explained why each and every one of them was special to them, letters that named names….that listed past deeds which have shaped their lives. It quickly became clear that Meredith and Richie truly appreciated the effort everyone had made….not only to be there at the wedding…but also to have such a profound effect on their lives. If I told you that tears were flowing freely – both from Meredith and Richie and from everyone seated before them – I still don’t think you could understand how emotional it was. I clearly remember that I was standing in the balcony above them as the letters were being read. I was focused on the best angle, the direction of light flowing through the windows and I’ll admit that I was not immediately affected by the words I was hearing. Until a sledgehammer came flying through the air and nearly knocked me on my back. I heard a loud sob below me and it made me suddenly take notice and actually stop and listen.
In nine years, we’ve had the privilege of attending so many beautiful ceremonies – all filled with the unique emotions and personal sentiments and I can probably count the number of times I’ve felt tears fill the corners of my eyes. Now maybe it’s because Meredith, Richie and their friends and family are so special to us after all these years. Or maybe it’s because what they had written was so sincere, so intense, so appreciative…so humble. Whatever it was, I found myself being completely unable to control the tears flowing down my face. Even right now – as I write this – I can feel myself getting teary again. It was that powerful. They took the time to genuinely honor each and every person that impacted their lives and by doing that, left their guests feeling so proud, so loved and so special.
So after that emotional journey, everyone was feeling such a high and so much love for each other and it was awesome to see Meredith and Richie with their wedding party having the time of their lives during our portrait session. And here they all are:
After having fun with their wedding party, we then got to play with Meredith and Richie all on their own. We roamed the campus at Brown University and then made our way back to the Providence Biltmore where we used the very urban downtown location of the hotel for a completely different feel. Here are some of our favorite moments:
Now the reception brought it’s own set of crazy memories and fun times. When we first arrived, the first thing we did as we walked in the room was smile at how perfectly “Meredith” it was. The details….the perfect details everywhere. Remember the gorgeous letterpress invitations, the matching ceremony programs? That beautiful design and letterpress paper was incorporated right into the reception with the amazing thank you cards left at each place setting:
Now the Biltmore hotel is an historic building and has such beautiful original ornate details. The ballroom is held on the very top floor with floor-to-ceiling windows providing sweeping views of the city. Meredith and Richie arranged for some accent lighting in the ballroom and it all made for an exquisite backdrop for their first dance:
So now that you’ve heard so much about my favorite girls, would you like to finally meet them?? I’m actually excited to “share” them with you.
So another “tradition” that we have is getting all of the girls together for a Hanover girls’ photo. We do a good and proper one….and then they give us their best “eye”. They want that tough sexy feel. And they’re scary good at it:
So after this pose, it was time for our normal “happy” group photo. Except poor Jill (who is sitting in the middle) thought we were all doing yet another “sexy” look and gave us that famous “eye” while everyone else was grinning happily. Let me tell you, too, Jill probably gave me the best “sexy” look I’ve ever seen. The timing was just all wrong. And when she realized she was the only one posing, well….the result was one of my all time favorite images of my girls:
Take a second to look at each of them….do you see them all touching one another, leaning over each other laughing hysterically – can’t you just feel that bond they all have? That comes from years and years of memories and shared experiences and this is how I remember them every time I think of these girls. I love that image so much….
So we can’t let a wedding go by without taking another Tirado brides group photo – and just like that handkerchief that is passed down among all of their girls, we keep adding one more bride to each photo that we take. Each and every one of them with their own special place in our hearts and with memories that we’ll keep forever….
From left to right: Jill (August, 2007); Kristin (July, 2006), Meredith (July, 2009), Ashley (July, 2005) and Nicole (October, 2006).
Now a big part of the reason why these guys are such close friends is because they all grew up together in the same neighborhood. In addition to that, their parents are all close friends and have remained close to this day. So without their parents, none of this would have been possible. We’ve also become close to all of their parents and here are some of them together having an absolute blast at the reception along with some more fun candids:
And so now, emotionally spent, I hope you have a little bit of insight into what a special group of friends we have been honored to know. I know you’ll be hearing more about them in the future and I imagine my blog posts about them will become even longer and even more difficult for me to express my feelings. But until then, I’ll leave you with two of the most personally sentimental images that we have from that night. Rene and I, each with our favorite Hanover girls and our inspiration for everything that is wonderful about lifelong friends….
We love you guys from the very bottom of our hearts…..
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