Two weddings and a funeral

This June was filled with joy and sorrow.  The weekend of June 17th through 19th I had the privilege to participate in the weddings of two very special couples.  I also lost my dearest friend and companion, Max.









Marc and Roger have been together for over 12 years. The two grooms had been waiting for same-sex marriage to become legal in their home city of Atlanta, and they had planned to marry once it happened. They came to Cape Cod under the guise of a 40th birthday party for a friend. Unbeknownst to the other party-goers, they had another agenda.  Roger and Marc planned an intimate wedding ceremony for themselves at the Land's End Inn, Provincetown.  In attendance were the happy couple, myself, Kathleen the minister, and the innkeeper.  Onlookers from the second floor balcony included Kathleen Turner who was in town for the annual film festival.  It was a beautiful day and the simple ceremony was perfect. Roger and Marc exchanged vows and simple wedding rings overlooking Provincetown harbor.  We then had some fun with an extended photo shoot on the grounds of the Inn and all around town.

Laura and Wayne are a joyful pair. They laugh easily at each other and themselves. They love dogs and have created a home together in Wellfleet with two pugs, one cat, and Laura's son and daughter.  They are each very unassuming people that are generous in spirit. Their wedding was on a spectacular Saturday afternoon at Willowbend Country Club. The setting was perfect and the bride and groom were both radiant.  The ceremony was sweet and touching, with an added personal flair by Wayne's father, a retired minister. 
Please enjoy some of my favorite shots from my time with Laura and Wayne.

 

Anyone who has shared their life with a pet knows the agony of their death.  Max lived for exactly 12 years, all but the first 12 weeks was with me. Max gave love to everyone he met, (with the exception of one former boyfriend, apparently he was a better judge of character than I).  He was the comic relief in my sometimes overly serious world, he was the 90+ pound lap dog that loved to snuggle.  Whenever I cried he would either hide or kiss my tears away. Max loved the beach, walking in the woods, visiting the horses next door, nibbling on ears and watching the world from the height of our deck.
Max also had a stubborn streak the size of Alaska and would often ignore my requests (or commands) to pursue his own desires.
After a difficult six months, Max succumbed to brochial disease and laryngeal paralysis on the morning of June 19th, two days after his 12th birthday.  He was the truest friend and the most amazing dog I have ever known. He leaves a void in this world, and will be missed everyday.

These bottom two photos were taken in May, and are the last pictures of Max that were made.