Lets be honest. Not every couple I photograph is going to make it. And in terms of “death do us part” fewer have a even a fighting chance. This is the cold hard truth treated like a dark secret and only spoken of behind very closed doors. Some couples have sex way too soon and still others dont get naked soon enough. Or often enough for that matter. The point being that not all the hand made details, or nifty pinterest inspiration is enough to make a marriage work. It takes so much fucking more. Communication. Determination. Compromise in the form sacrifice. Compromise in the form of humility. Compromise in the form of “I’m sorry”. And not everyone, not even close to everyone has what it take to be selfless enough to be a relationship for the long haul.
       If you are ever fortunate enough to actually meet someone, like my grandparents for instance, who were high school sweethearts and were together until their death then you know that it was not an easy thing. In fact while I have no doubt that they shared a love beyond reasoning, toward the end of their lives I cant say for sure if they were still together because of that love or simply because they couldn’t comprehend being alone. Both are good reasons to me.
       Someone recently left a comment on the carving tree that said ” A part of me will always love you, always hold on to what we had and how I felt….. Try as I may, I will never silence that small voice in my head that says “You loved him first”. Because you may not be my true love, my great love, or my last love but no one can take away that you were my First Love.” This is the risk that we take when opening up ourselves and exposing our guts to another human being. Do I say these things to discourage love? Hell no. I say these things simply because it never ceases to amaze me that even with the risk that lovers will cheat on lovers and that some of our deepest feelings may go unrequited we still choose to throw caution to the wind and with a flurry heart take another’s hand.