When I first began this business 5 years ago, I was so excited to finally get started. I had taken the courses, I had bought an entry-level camera, I had all new editing software, and for my first ever real session, I had the most perfect models. Now here I am in 2022 on a plane back from the desert after shooting the most epic wedding I’ll probably ever have the privilege of capturing at the incredible Under Canvas Moab. My equipment is a bit more updated than it was for my first session, but my models are just as perfect.
I wish I could go back to that session in 2017 and tap myself on the shoulder, show her these images, and tell her how incredible her photography journey will be. That the excitement never wears off. Then I would walk over to my beautiful best friend who so generously let me practice my newfound skills on her little family that day and tell her that her dream wedding was absolutely everything she ever hoped for and so much more.
If you’re a little confused, let me explain:
Mine and Josh’s best friends, Megan and Devin, got married in 2014 after Devin joined the Coast Guard. Their ceremony was small and rushed, with only their parents in attendance. They’ve since traveled the country together and built the most beautiful family. Happiness is all their marriage is, but even so, they still felt like something was missing. They never got the opportunity to celebrate their marriage with the people they love most. Megan never got to go try on countless dresses. Devin never got to share a first dance with his mother. Cutting the cake? Didn’t happen. A getaway car? More like a nonstop flight to Texas so Devin could begin his duties.
So 8 years later, Mr. and Mrs. Richey decided they would fill that void in the form of a destination vow renewal like you’ve never, ever, ever seen before.
Right slap-dab in the middle of the Moab, Utah desert, they invited their closest family and friends along for a three-day celebration. Their dream venue, Under Canvas Moab, is essentially a hotel, except instead of rooms, guests were invited to stay in their own tents. Yes, tents. We were full-on glamping, people. Our tent, let me emphasize, tent, had a king-size bed, a porch, a shower, sink, and toilet, a wood-burning stove, and plenty of room to sit and relax. In a tent. Now I can pretend I'm a bonafide camper.
Our adventure began with one incredible welcome. Megan and Devin treated their guests to a cookout. Complete with amazing food, live music, s’mores, and not one, but two “game shows”. We all had fun watching the “Not So Newlywed” game where Megan and Devin completed against a seasoned couple, married for 53 years, and another just starting their relationship. Then the bridesmaids and groomsmen took front stage as they competed to see who knew the bride or groom the best. The entire night was live entertainment at its finest.
We all headed back to our tents, exhausted from laughing so much, and prepared for the next day. Sunrise came early, and we headed out to Arches National Park to shoot the sweetest ever first look. I’ve done several first looks with couples on their wedding days, and I’m pretty much guaranteed to cry at every one, but seeing Devin tear up and try to shake off the nerves as he waited to see his already wife…Nicholas Sparks couldn’t even make this stuff up.
Then we trekked down the Park Avenue Trail to take bride and groom portraits that I’m very sure I’ll never get over. I looked down at my watch and 3 hours had passed. It was really and truly a morning of photography dreams.
The rest of the day was a whirlwind. Wedding days are always that way and I love it. The rush never gets old, but I’ve never experienced the rush quite like this before. You see, not only was I privileged enough to take these images for Megan and Devin, I also had the absolute honor of standing beside Megan as she said her vows, again. It was no doubt the most challenging and most rewarding wedding I've ever done.
There are a million different things I could say about this couple, but I can't really think of anything better to say than my Matron of Honor speech:
Megan and I have been friends for a while.
Our story begins way back when we were
ballerinas and soccer players. There have
been way too many sleepovers and outings,
trips and adventures, late nights and early
mornings together. There were times our
teachers just called us “Maggen” because we
were always together.
So I guess that’s why it was kind of a shock
when Megan told me right after we
graduated that she was packing up and
following Devin, for better or worse.
Have you guys seen the movie Inside Out? Do
you know about core memories? The first
time I ever saw that movie I was actually in
Texas visiting Megan and Devin, and I told
Josh, “I have those. I have core memories.”
There are a few different moments in my life
that I can close my eyes and be right back into
those moments. Moments that are so etched
in my mind that I can instantly remember
every detail.
One of my core memories took place in
August 2014. Megan came over for me to
do her hair. This really wasn’t an unusual
occurrence, I couldn’t even begin to tell you
how many times I had braided or curled those
thick blonde locks, but this time was different
because Megan brought a white dress with
her.
When we had finalized her head to 2014
perfection, she smiled, turned around, and
gave me a hug. And it’s those few moments
that I’ll remember forever. I remember as I
was holding her, I thought, “I wonder when I’ll
do her hair again. I wonder when I’ll see her
again.”
And when we finally broke the hug, she pulled
her face away from me and I saw tears in her
eyes. She looked at me, smiled, and took in a
big, deep breath, then headed out the door.
I didn’t really know what exactly would
happen after that hug, but I knew her life
would never ever be the same.
Switching gears a bit to the first time I met
Devin. We weren’t ballerinas or soccer
players, we were actually already in high
school. Josh and I went to his Aunt Pat’s for
the weekend.
If you all didn’t know, Devin’s dad Blaine is
married to Anna who is also Josh’s aunt.
So Blaine and Anna came down for the
weekend too and Blaine brought his son,
Devin. And the first time I laid eyes on him,
Josh was getting mad because this scrawny,
little boy with a really scrappy haircut was
absolutely schooling him at driveway
basketball.
Josh told me not to say that part because it
“isn’t true”, but this is my memory, not his.
So anyway, a couple hours later, it was just
me, Josh, and Devin in the living room, and I
decided to try and make small talk, so I said,
“So...what grade are you in?”
And poor Devin was like, “Um, I think we’re all
in the same grade.”
And I was completely taken aback and
embarrassed and I don’t think we talked again
the rest of the weekend.
Fast forward a couple months to when school
started and Devin sat down in my Calculus
class and he had to have grown a foot and he
was like buff and his hair was all short and
trim and I was like, “Devin?!”
And every. single. girl. was all about him. Every
one was like, “Did you see the new guy?!”
And I was like, “Who? Devin? Pssh, yeah I
know Devin. Devin and I go waaaaay back.”
Well, I don’t know if he knew it because he had
just had his glow up, but Devin literally could
have handpicked any girl in the school, except
me of course because I was already in love.
He could have had anyone, but he didn’t.
Now I said he could’ve had any girl except me,
but that’s not entirely true, the only other girl
who wasn’t interested in him was Megan.
Because she was in a relationship, in which
she wasn’t happy anyway, but it was just too
much work and took too long to restart a new
relationship.
Thankfully we were all able to talk some sense
into her and here we all are almost a decade
later.
And what an amazing time it has been. I’m so
thankful that that hug we shared wasn’t even
close to our last. I’m thankful for all of the
memories we’ve made since then.
You two are such a light in our lives and you
bring us balance.
You all are adventurous and spontaneous and
so much fun and Josh and I are all boring and
comfy and we just sit in one spot in our little
routines waiting for you all to get back.
I’m so happy, though, that you forced us along
for this adventure. We are so happy to
celebrate you tonight. You are amazing people
who were clearly made for each other.
I love watching the two of you ebb and flow
through life together. You’re always each
other’s biggest supporters. I’ve listened to
both of you talk about the other one when
they’re not around, and it’s nothing but
respect and genuine love for each other.
Even when you’re fighting, its just so stinkin
cute and funny because neither one of you
can stay mad long and you usually just end up
all giggly about it.
And in 40 years when we’re all looking back on
this day, I know that you will be the absolute
sweetest old couple on the planet with a
lifetime full of pictures and moments and
beautiful core memories that you all share
together.
Megan and Devin, I love you both, I love your
children, and it’s truly an honor to stand next
to you today. I pray God continues to bless
your marriage, and I have every bit of
confidence that He will because you two
always put Him first.
You guys, thank you. Just thank you for trusting me with this. I know your hearts were so invested in this adventure and I'm so grateful just to have been a part of it.
I'm SO EXCITED to introduce, in image form, the then, now, and forever: Mr. & Mrs. Richey
Venue: Under Canvas Moab
Photographer: Maggie Turner, Things Are Lovely Photography
Planning & Design - Gatherist, Emmily
Planning assistant - Gatherist, Haylee
Videographer - Savannah Anderson Photography
Bride's Gown: ...And Something Blue San Fransisco
Bridesmaids Gowns: Various, Baltic Born
Florals: Twisted Rose
Rentals - Moab Event Services
Caterers: Practical Smokers, Tacos Don Rafa, Rockstar Catering
Hair & Makeup: Tyna Harbold
Music - John Sherrell, Guitar
Paper Goods/Signage - Martello Co., Stephanie Hammer
Linen Rental - Nuage Design
Tabletop Rentals: Wild Event Studio
