Trash the Dress Session at Howard Park
Empowering Trash the Dress Session at Howard Park, Florida |Award Winning Florida Wedding Photographer
Beth transforms her would be wedding day by reclaiming the date with an incredible Trash the Dress session complete with butterfly wings, glitter and an amazing ocean sunset. She takes back the day and learns to see the beauty in herself. This session and Beth's words will move you to tears.
The following has been written by Beth to share her empowerment journey with you.
Beauty. Grace. Transformation.
Growing up, I was the little girl who dreamt of my wedding day. My childhood friends and I would cut pictures out of magazines and create vision boards our ‘special day’. April 3rd, 2015 was going to be the day I had been dreaming of all my life. However, the universe had different plans.
With a beautiful wedding dress on hand and an incredible photographer already booked, I decided to celebrate surrounded by my family, friends and a few incredibly talented and compassionate photographers. It was my opportunity to reclaim and rewrite the ending of a love story that ended abruptly, tragically and way too soon. It would be a celebration of healing, personal growth, forgiveness, self- discovery, the journey to self love and the importance of family and friendships during a period of grief. My photographer, Marilyn Shamblin was instrumental in the vision of my empowering Mess the Dress photography session. We decided on several key elements that we wanted to incorporate into the photography session.
I have always been fascinated by the struggle the butterfly goes through while transforming and how it's struggle is necessary in order for it’s wings to develop for flight. I found the perfect pair of butterfly wings to accompany my wedding dress and put them on to start the photography session at Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. The beginning of the session symbolized my transformation from personal tragedy to triumph. I was reminded of one of my all time favorite quotes by Maya Angelou. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
Some of my best childhood memories were climbing in the trees and exploring in the woods surrounding my home with my best friends and brother. Being able to spend part of my session in the “woods” while climbing trees reminded me of my childhood roots and took me back to a time of peace and tranquility. To me, a tree is a pillar of strength and beauty, while its branches can be shaken when the wind blows, they are not easily broken. They also provide oxygen that is necessary to sustain life. So many of my friends and family have been the “trees” in my life throughout my journey to healing. Letting me curl up in their arms, reminding me to breath, reminding me to stand tall when I did not know if I had the ability to stand.
Capturing pictures of me blowing glitter into the wind to symbolize a release of the hurt and pain I had experienced throughout the my life was very cathartic. I chose turquoise and purple glitter, colors that represent survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. While this time in my life will always be part of my life, I refuse to let it define me.
We decided to end the session on the beach with my friends and family. I purchased Chinese lanterns for each of us to carry our wishes up to the blue skies. Unfortunately, the wind had a different plan for that evening. Reminding me that life does not always go as planned and sometimes there are better things just around the corner.
At that very moment, the sun was setting over the ocean creating a sea of oranges, pinks, and purples and the moon was rising on the other side of the rocks. I couldn’t resist the urge climb the rocks for a picture. It reminded me that sometimes life may be a bit rocky. Instead of letting the those times get the best of you, climb to the top of the rocks and look out at the majestic view that surrounds you. While one phase of my life was ending (the sun was setting), another one was just beginning (the moon was rising). As I stood on the rocks looking out over the ocean and it’s limitless power, yet peaceful nature, a calming feeling came over me. I realized that like the ocean tides, there will be times in my life that I will rise and fall. But, each day is a new day and the sun will rise and set again. The skies may be cloudier on some days, but the cloudier days provide for a more beautiful sunrise and sunset.
To end the session, I was unable to resist getting into the water with my dress. As I walked out into the ocean and laid down in my dress I was reminded of what a beautiful and vast world we live in and the that it is ours to explore. We just have to dare to be brave enough wade out into the waters.
To me, photography is more than an art, it is healing and empowering. I will never forget looking in the mirror at the end of my relationship and not recognizing the woman staring back at me. It was through this experience and pictures from this day that I have been able to acknowledge my external beauty and recognize the beautiful, brave and strong woman in the mirror.
For that, I am forever grateful. April 3, 2015 will no longer be defined as the day of my dream wedding. It will be defined as the day I learned to love myself again.
