Chelsea + Trevor, I am so excited for you two & I’m honored to be your wedding photographer!

(I’m also excited to be working with Sugar Branch Events for their wedding. Yay!)

Be sure to go see my featured wedding on their blog here!

Yazz and Soren’s wedding was perfect and SO MUCH FUN. All their decor was handmade by Yazz and the details consisted of balloons, confetti & glitter! I feel so blessed to have been a part of their wedding day. I love you guys and I’m excited for you to grow together and with the Lord as husband and wife.

The wedding program was a photo copy of a cartoon that Soren drew Yazz when they first started dating!

My heart feels so FULL when I think about Bill and Fay! I went to their house to chat and took some photos of our time together. We discussed marriage and everything that comes with it – joy, trials, family and more. This couple is an absolute joy to be around! They are wise, witty and absolutely head-over-heels in love with each other.

I learned so much from Bill and Fay and I know you will too! If anything they said was significant to you or you learned something from them, please leave a comment below – I’d love to share the comments with them!

(Note: When I arrived, Fay was still getting ready so I began chatting with just Bill.)

How did you meet and when did you know Fay was the one you wanted to marry?
BILL: We met at our church. You know, there wasn’t just one moment where I “got” it. Knowing I wanted to marry Fay was a growing experience and eventually it just seemed right. I don’t think there’s an exact explanation for how you know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. It’s a process.

How did you propose?
BILL: I drove her to a friend’s house and said, “I think we should get married.” It wasn’t great. I didn’t take her to dinner or to the beach. But whatever I did worked and she agreed!

Describe the days leading up to the wedding. How did you prepare for the day? For the marriage?
BILL: There was exciting anticipation and an overwhelming desire to be married. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was ready and that I had found the perfect woman to be my wife. I had been single for a lot of years with a desire to have a wife, but it never felt right until I knew I was going to marry Fay.

A photo of Bill + Fay from their wedding day – September 6, 1955

Tell me about your wedding. What do you remember?
BILL: I remember everything. Especially when it was over.

(Note: At this point, I started laughing and Fay walked into the room. Perfect timing, if you ask me!)

What were your initial expectations about marriage?
BILL: Togetherness – to live with someone you loved and anticipate having a family together.
FAY: I expected what I learned from my parents. I remember being a little girl and seeing my parents in love. They had different personalities, but boy did they love each other. Dad would come home from work with a smile and the first thing he did was kiss Mom. They were always happy to see each other. I’m so grateful to have had parents like this because it became my expectation and my goal for my own marriage.

When you look back on the past 56 years of marriage, what stands out to you the most?
FAY: Love and grace that has overcome every problem and difficulty. We have gone through ALL experiences that come with life and love has risen above all of it.

Bill and Fay looking through a photo album. It was gifted to Bill on his 90th birthday
and is filled with photos and letters from people who have been blessed by Bill and Fay.

If you had to describe marriage in one word, what would it be?
BILL: I have to use two words – loving oneness. The purpose of marriage is oneness – spiritually, emotionally, socially, etc. You spend the rest of your life growing together as one.
FAY: I have a similar answer as him, but I’m going to follow the rules and use one word – unity.  (She said this with a smirk and Bill looked at her with amusement. It was so cute and I realized how much they genuinely enjoy each other.)

What does your spouse mean to you?
FAY: He’s my life. I’m very thankful to have someone who has loved me and taken care of me. People used to see us together and go, “Here comes the team!” That’s what we are! Naturally, I’m accustomed to being by myself, but we’ve learned how to work well together. I think that every couple has to learn how to work together, because men and women are different and grow up differently. For example, I learned how to help Bill by typing his work for him because he’s not very good at typing.
BILL: Well, that’s not true.
FAY: Yes it is, I watch you.
BILL: Yes, okay, that’s true. (laughs)

In Bill’s office (where Fay helps Bill type)

Trials and hardships are a part of life. As a married couple, you share those trials together. What advice would you give to other couples in regards to going through life’s storms together?
FAY: It is essential to be patient, understanding, loving and selfless. If I were to sum up what love is in one word, it would be “giving.” You know you’re in love when you find the person whom you’re willing to give your life.
BILL: I mentioned earlier about “togetherness” in marriage. A big part of marriage togetherness is intent. I must believe that Fay’s intent for me is always for good. We are together, on the same team. We don’t always perform perfectly, but when we know the other is our first, we can work through anything.
FAY: There are two completely different people that make up a marriage. Marriage isn’t easy!
BILL: Yes, that’s true. And as much as marriage requires love, it also needs “like.” You need to like each other.

There are also seasons of joy that are shared in marriage. What advice would you give to other couples regarding how to enjoy life together?
BILL: Put the Lord first and you will have constant joy throughout your marriage, no matter what you’re going through.

Bill is a World War II veteran. He proudly showed me his photo as a young soldier and the toy replica of the car he used to drive during the war.

Fay is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.

(You can read about how “Still In Love” started here. If you know a married couple whose love for each other has made a positive impact on your life and you’d like to share their story with others, please email me at cami@camijanephotography.com)