The only thing that can beat photographing sweet young love is photographing a love that has truly stood the test of time! Kirk and Adell gathered all of their family and friends for an anniversary reception in Tulsa last weekend to honor the commitment they made to one another on February 14, 1970 – FIFTY years ago! It was a full weekend of great food, great wine, and great company! These two will be a staple at the top of my favorites list for so many reasons. Even as they’ve shared a full life together (two kids, 5 grandkids, and a plethora of fun adventures), they easily looked like they could have been newlyweds! I asked Katie, their granddaughter, how she thought they would do with the portraits we took of the two of them, and she was not wrong when she said they would be super lovey-dovey! It was a TREAT to photograph them in all their giddiness and affection for one another!

The Nellis’ celebrations, unbeknownst to me at the time, was the kickoff to my own engagement last Sunday, which was so perfect and made the weekend that much more memorable. Jonathan and I talk a lot about what we want our own marriage to look like 15 years, 25 years, and of course 50 years down the road….and it’s safe to say this right here with Kirk and Adell would be it. Absolutely enamored with one another, surrounded by adoring family, and looking to the Lord more and more so that we may love one another just as He loved us first.

Congratulations to these two and their beautiful family!! Wishing you many more years of good wine, overseas adventures, and of course this newlywed kind of love!