Weddings happened in 2020. They looked a little different, and also a little similar. Love, fear, loss, joy, beauty and humor were in attendance at each wedding. As were masks, lap tops, hand sanitizer, and individually plated snacks.
I photographed two elopements at City Hall before the corona virus shut down 141 Worth for the remainder of the year. The first was on the Eve of Chinese New Year and it was the busiest I had seen the clerk’s office, complete with a 2.5 hour wait. The second was on March 13th, days before New York shut down. The waiting hall was a bit sparse and there was one group wearing masks.
My next wedding was on September 12th. Weddings moved out of the city. Childhood backyards and public parks were repurposed as ceremony and venue sites. Lap tops, video cameras, and extension cords were the VIPs. Parents drove across the country and quarantined for weeks to attend ceremonies. Friends were mostly absent, 6 feet apart, or zooming in from Western Australia at 5am. The Met and The Beekman hotel, two places i’d previously been chased away from, allowed me to take photos on their grounds. I saw Dad’s take on the roll of florist, and I’m naming dogs as the unofficial wedding party of 2020.
This year has been full of contradictions. I respect science and safety. I also miss faces, spontaneous hugging, and shared charcuterie boards during cocktail hour. I don’t miss love or joy, because they are still here, and will continue to be, no matter what restrictions next year presents. Congratulations to all my 2020 wedding warriors. Thank you for inviting me into each of your wedding days and sharing your joy, stress, and love. Every ceremony was a highlight for me during this particularly heartbreaking year. Much Love, Chuan + George, Madison + Will, Rachael + Jason, Lauren + Chuck, Stephanie + Ash, Danielle + Greg, Adrianna + Josh, Stephanie + Christian, Mandy + Zachary, Monica + Mike, Sabrina + Vicky, Gillian + Mike, Sam + Patrick.
