Dave and Kathleen

October 21, 2006

Ceremony: Christ King, Wauwatosa Wisconsin

More pictures at: Charles Allis Art Museum

Reception: The Historic Astor Hotel

So one fine day Dave calls me, maybe about 6-7 weeks before the wedding. He got my name from my good friends the Venturi’s, who have the best darn deli on 72^nd and North Avenue in Wauwatosa.

7 years ago, Pete and Sue Venturi were my neighbors. We had a block party, and Pete and I had waaay too many beers and he told me how he had started this great new deli, but he was having trouble finding good help. And he was short on help for the next day for the Sunday “Ham and Rolls” crowd. I told him that I grew up in food service, knew my way around a deli counter, and I would help. When I actually showed up the next morning at 8:30 AM to help, he almost fell over. That cemented our friendship for life, I think. I worked for the Venturi’s very part time for about 3 years until my wedding schedule grew to the point that dragging myself into serving Ham and Rolls at 8:30 AM after shooting a 12 hour wedding just got to be too much. But if you ever make it there, try the chicken salad and the bow tie pasta, I promise it will make you weep.

So, anyway, Dave calls. He’s sure I’m booked, but Sue told him to call me and maybe I had a referral. I’m not booked. I was booked for that day, but the wedding had to be rescheduled to a different date. And as the story unfolded, I found out this:

Dave and Kathleen live 6 blocks from me.

The Astor, where they wanted their reception had a cancellation.

I had a cancellation.

Dave and Kathleen met at their high school reunion. Dave had worked on the reunion and had intended on going, but had doubts at the last minute about going. He was up north with his parents helping out and was having a nice time and thought maybe he’d just skip it , and his mom convinced him to go.

He went.

The rest, as they say, is history.

I mention all the time that one of my favorite parts of the day is the getting ready. I think it might be a chick thing, but I love observing and recording the ritual of the bride getting ready with her “girls”. The only problem with this was that I loved Kathleen’s bridesmaids so much that I wanted to chat instead of taking pictures. This, for me, is one of my greatest challenges as a wedding photographer. If I am chatting, I am not recording. (But for the record I want to let Carolyn know that I found a Bikrim hot yoga class and she is right, it rocks my world)

And after I shot the wedding I thought to myself I am sure that the reason I identified with Kathleen and her bridesmaids was because they were closer to my age than my average client.

But the next weekend I shot Stephanie’s wedding. And I dare say that I am probably closer in age to Steph’s mom than I am to her. Didn’t matter. I loved being around her and her bridesmaids just as much. In every funny nickname, in every funny moment, I was reminded of my college days.

Just live the day!