Jeff + Audra {Paso Robles}

“May I introduce to you a brand new creation, something that has never existed before in the history of the world Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Choelho.”

I’ve been to a lot of wedding in the past 8 years of being a wedding photographer and Jeff + Audra's Officiant’s words arrested my heart in a unique way.

“A brand new creation.”

“Something that has never existed before in the history of the world!”

How refreshing is truth! As I photographed Jeff + Audra on their wedding day this truth reminded me of just how amazing and miraculous marriage is. The joining of two lives into one. A uniting that is physical, spiritual, visible, yet invisible.

Having photographed hundreds of weddings over the years I’m constantly searching for inspiration to keep my heart soft to the beauty of marriage. To keep my eyes fresh when I look upon a couple in love. It’s true that I have fallen in love with wedding photography, but as the Officiant said in his message, “It’s a lot easier to fall in love than to stay in love.”

To stay in love you have to rekindle the flame by pouring fuel on the fire. You must remember why you fell in love and why you choose to love. You need to be reminded the truth of how miraculous it all is; the transformation of two into one. And I need to be reminded too. So, thank you Audra and Jeff for reminding me of how amazing love and marriage is and for being living monument to the world around you. May you continue to stay in love all your days!

Here are a few more words on marriage from their inspiring Officiant.

“Let me share with you a few observations I’ve made across the years that will hopefully help you and come back to your memory when you need it. The first thing I want to say to you is that it’s a lot easier to fall in love than to stay in love. There’s that magic moment Jefferey when you looked at Audra and said, ‘Yeaaaah!’ And there’s that magic moment Audra when you looked at Jeff and said, ‘Oh well, why not?!’ And that attraction is very important because it has brought you to this movement. But like I said it’s a whole lot easier to fall in love than to stay in love.

“There will be issues in your life. Hidden secrets. Developments. Audra I wish I could say to you that you know Jeff as well as any person. But the truth is over the next 45-50 years, he’ll be changing and you will find out something new about him. And you may say ‘well that’s not quite the guy I married.’ But you see it’s a lot easier to fall in love than it is to stay in love. But you can LOVE him.

“I wished I could tell you Jeffery that you know all there is about Audra and everything is always going to be as perfect as it is today. But… it’s not gonna be that way. Things are going to change. And you’ll discover as she becomes the woman that God wants her to be that there will be changes. But, keep loving each other. Keep committed to each other. Let me offer to you what one famous American preacher offered to his group; that it’s ALWAYS too soon to quit. For it’s always easier to fall in love than to stay in love. But you can make it and God will help you.“

And be sure to check out their epic trailer by Josh Morris of Rain Studios! Awesome!