It was a normal weeknight in my home office. I was answering emails and editing a few photos when a friend, Eric, called. He told me that he had met the most amazing couple one Monday night as he was volunteering at MD Anderson Cancer Center. A couple with a beautiful love story. A pair so full of love and hope. Their names are Anne and James.
Anne and James met at work. They built a lasting friendship over the past 20 years and decided that this friendship was something more, and thus they planned to be married in August of 2013. It was not soon after their engagement that James was diagnosed with an aggressive Leukemia, so Anne and James transferred their lives to Houston for his treatments. It was at MD Anderson that they met Eric as he was making his visits from room to room, and over subsequent visits to their hospital room Eric came to know and be inspired by Anne and James.
Several weeks into their transition to MD Anderson, Anne and James decided that this wedding couldn’t wait. Life and love were to be celebrated now, despite the circumstances, so they planned a wedding for February 16, 2013, at the MD Anderson Chapel. Eric told me their story over the phone, let me know the date of the wedding, and before he could even ask me I said, “I want to photograph this wedding.” And that is when I stepped into this story.
The small wedding at MD Anderson was complete with all of the necessary details – a dress, a bouquet, a tux, a bottle of champagne, a beautiful cake, a chapel. But it was the story amidst the details that made this perhaps the most beautiful wedding I have ever had the honor to photograph. The story of celebrating life. The story of cherishing love. The story of embracing friendship. The story of grasping hope.
Anne and James, I cannot thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to capture this moment in your story. As you look into the smiles on everyones faces, including your own, may you be reminded that your story is full of life. Here’s to many more smiles 🙂
Tender kisses and lively faces,
HK
I am so amazed and envious of your love for one another. I wish you both nothing but love & happiness. No two people are more deserving of it than James & Anne Ott who are never far from my thoughts.. Xoxo Erika
Anne and James look beautiful. It is so lovely to have family and friends celebrate with us.. A very special day for our family.
This is the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen. Tears.
Thanks, Katie. It was certainly the most memorable wedding we have ever had the honor to photograph 🙂