SURPRISE WEDDING: YOU DID IT!
It’s not easy to pull off a surprise wedding for your guests, but Arlene and Ray found a way. On a beautiful Wednesday evening in July, they had gathered their families and a few friends for a ruse photo shoot in the 4x4 area called Carova, with one of the Outer Banks’ great photographers, Jonathan Pillow Photography. The photo shoot was developing into a grand success with perfect lighting and beautiful subjects.
This photo was taken during the photo shoot when everyone was clueless about the wedding.
The plan was to do the photo shoot and then pull the trigger on the surprise. I was waiting in my Jeep about a 100 yards down the beach, and when Arlene texted me saying “Let’s go”, I made my move. I walked up with my binder and said (ie: lied) something like “Hi, sorry to barge in on your fun here tonight, but I’m from the Currituck Chamber of Commerce and just out here on the beach trying to meet people and let them know about some great events here in the area this week. In fact, the most exciting event of the week is going to happen tonight, because my name is actually Rev. Jay Bowman, and Arlene & Ray are going to be married right here in your presence, right now.” Well, the tears of joy started flowing almost immediately as the reality of the announcement sank in. It was like it was Christmas morning for a bunch of 5 year olds, so genuinely excited and full of anticipation! (see photos below). So fun to watch unfold.
After a few minutes of hugs and laughter, Arlene and Ray were standing there holding hands as they promised everything to each other for all time. So intimate. So forever. And the lives of their children present were forever changed in a wonderful way, too, standing there next to the Atlantic Ocean during a summer sunset.
I’ve been a part of many Outer Banks weddings over the years where the bride and groom surprised the family with the news of getting married the day before or the morning of, but I’ve never been there in the exact moment when everyone found out it was happening “Right Now”. The unbridled joy on their faces still gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
I’ll never forget that moment. So happy for everyone there, especially Arlene and Ray. May the journey ahead be even better than you hoped for. You did it! You really did it!
