Tonight is the night, I always get these little butterflies, the kind I felt before I used to go to prom or something silly like that. It’s the kind of night where I really should plan out my outfit, lay out the spanx, shave my legs and paint my nails, but the truth is that this day usually sneaks up on me and my parents show up on our doorstep and I’m still in sweats and not wearing a bra. Two years ago I dried my wet hair with the air vent in the car and last year I ate a whole platter of greasy appetizers before even showing up to this night. Clearly I am no Cinderella and this isn’t my ball, but it is a night worth celebrating and something I anticipate like a kid with a wiggly tooth anticipates the tooth fairy. It’s the night that I get to dress up, celebrate another year in this crazy industry along side of my husband, my parents, my in-laws, and my peers in the industry as we act all fancy (ahem, we aren’t in yoga pants) and sip champagne and eat hors d’ouevres.
This is my third year up for the Best of Photography award reaping the top three in the state and the second year I am also up for the Top of the Tiara (also known as the coolest wedding vendor in Wisconsin, which basically should be called the “I’m much cooler on the internet but you guys are awesome” award.) Last year when I took home the photography title, my mom got her most popular Facebook post ever (Go, Mom!) and I drank a little too much champagne to celebrate. I still get a little teary when I talk about that night because the truth was, I got to look back at my parents and in-laws, I got to see the proud tears in their eyes as I carefully and gracefully climbed the steps to pick up the frame that held the title. Just to see them beaming with pride was worth all of the hardship, all of the stress, all of the doubts I ever had in making the leap into the wedding industry and never looking back. I can’t say my decision to leave the “dream” corporate job and become a stay at home puppy mom (ahem, photographer) was one that wasn’t questioned or carefully considered by those close to me, but taking home that frame that recognized that I had “made it” in the industry was enough to make me sleep better at night.
I am so thankful to have such a strong support system in my life, I am even more grateful to each and every one of you who took the time to cast a vote, to share a post, to encourage me, to slap me on my bum, and to remind me why I do all of this day in and day out. Tonight, I will be taking my “posse” down to Milwaukee. My parents and both sets of grandparents (who car pooled from Minnesota) along with my handsome husband and his parents will be joining me for tonight. Yes, I talk about family first, but these are the people who truly deserve to be celebrated, the ones who got me here. This award is by no means a reflection of my work, it’s proof that I once again have surrounded myself with people who believe in the beauty of dreams, who believe in chasing happiness, who believe in real imagery, and who think yoga pants and macaroni are important branding aspects. Without you, none of this would happen (especially the high heels) and regardless of the outcome of tonight, I feel crazy blessed that I even have the honor of seeing my name flash on that big screen. I am forever thankful for each and every one of you and the time you took out of your lives to encourage me forward in this career and dream of mine. If I take home the trophy, I want you to know it’s yours, if I don’t, I’ll probably drink extra champagne anyway and use it as an excuse to sleep in tomorrow, but regardless of it all, I am so thankful to be with my support system and celebrating all that has happened in the last year. Tonight is for you, I am forever thankful, I should probably go shower now.
haha! That moustache :)))
such a funny pic :))! Cheers