Thursday, November 18, 2010

Blushing Bride, Candid Capture


A beautiful bride with an unlimited flower budget.
(Click picture to enlarge)
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“The earth is like a beautiful bride who needs no manmade jewels to heighten her loveliness...” ~ Kahlil Gibran (Essayist, Novelist and Poet. 1883-1931)
The Setting: The Rose Gardens at Norfolk Botanical Garden
The Time: May through July, Any given year.
The Subject: Weddings, Brides, Love is in the Air.

Beginning in late May and extending through July, the scenes are repeated over and over. Brides flock to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens for wedding portraits and often, for the wedding itself. The rose garden is one of many venues available and is planted with hundreds of rose bushes in all shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, white, cream and everything in between. Tree roses, hybrid teas, old English roses, floribundas, fragrant and vibrant with color fill the space. Wide lush green grass walkways all lead to a central gazebo covered in tiny, yellow, delicate climbing roses. To one side is a stone building with stairs leading up to a low roof where a string quartet sits, the beautiful strains of The Wedding March and other classics wafting through the air. The large stone wall near the steps is covered completely with masses of ruby red climbing roses interspersed with leaves of dark emerald green. It is a royal place, a magic place, a perfect place for a wedding. No need for a floral budget here.... the flowers ARE the cathedral with blue skies and fluffy clouds as the ceiling and the soft green grass as the carpet. Simply add guests and the wedding party and in one simple step... a wedding.

Even if the wedding is held elsewhere, this is a favorite place for wedding portraits. On this day, I saw no less than three brides in various areas of the garden. Her photographer was set up far to my left and in front of me, posing her for a silhouette shot. I was using my long lens with no flash and was far enough away to be unnoticed by anyone. Everyone was shooting the flowers, as was I, but I thought there was a story here. Such promise in her pose. She was radiant, even without seeing her face you could tell this was so. I wondered what she was thinking. Was she simply excited, happy, anxious? Or was she taking in all the beauty of her surroundings and making mental notes to remember this day as well as her wedding day. Did the fragrance of the roses send her to the same imaginary world of perfection it always seems to send me? I couldn't help sending her candid silent wishes for a long and loving marriage filled with much happiness and joy! Oh, yes... I DO hope she got to have her ceremony right here.... no place could be more perfect.

(end of post)
Carmi's Theme - "Candid"

10 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

Gosh what a lovely shot. Reading your story of the Botanical Garden, it makes me want to go!

kenju said...

We have a public rose garden here, too, and it is always full of brides!

Re your question: they are purple gladiolas, which I separated and placed individually in the arrangement.

Sandra said...

it really does look like a place of magic. with or without brides. no wonder it is so popular with the unlimited flowers. great shot. would you beleive i saw a bride and all here wedding party in our mall one evening? dressed in all the typical dress and strolling through the mall. we THINK they both worked in one of the stores becaue they all went in and ate wedding cake in the store.

Carmi said...

I'm going to politely disagree with your comment on my blog that you're "not a real photographer." Frankly, I hope this bride finds this picture someday, because it's stunningly beautiful, and probably more evocative of the mood of the day than anything her so-called "professional" managed to tease out.

That's the beauty of candid; that it can surprise and delight because it is so unexpected and so natural. This should be on the cover of her album.

pathdoc said...

It looked as if she were floating on a cloud of roses... nothing more romantic than that!

dennis the mennis said...

Love this shot!!

OldOldLady Of The Hills said...

I LOVE the sound of this place! And what better than to have all the flowers be in their natural state...It looks gorgeous from your wonderful photo.  I wish I could see it sometime...but....not possible.  Maybe more pictures from you, my dear? I envy any Bride & Groom having their Wedding in such a gorgeous setting!

Bobkat said...

Thos roses make a wonderful background. I can see why people woukd flock there for weddings as it sounds gorgeous. I love your stolen photo. It has such a romantic feel about it : )

Rambling Woods said...

They do make for a beautiful photo and natural too....

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