Everything happens for a reason right? I believe this, down to the core of who I am. So when my colleague and mentor cancelled on me, yes, said I cannot go and photograph your wedding. You want to know what I did, I heard him. I acknowledged his struggles, and replied with “I understand.”

I had just come back from a beautiful yoga class at Yoga Jones and I could not have asked the universe for better timing for this very hard conversation. I had dreamed of him taking our photos since the first time he photographed Gabe and I in 2013. After the call, I’ll admit I shed a tear, knowing that it was all for a reason. (doesn’t make darting my dream elopement photographer balloon any easier) Gabe hugged me and said “Well, we better get a better tripod!” He always looks at the glass 1/2 full, that’s one of the many reasons why I love him.

Yoga isn’t just the way I workout (I can’t do gyms, I’ve tried), it’s a way to move and live life. In a/the flow. The effects of yoga on the mind & body were studied at Harvard! <——-click here

I have suffered from anxiety and depression since I was little, and the only way I was able to combat it for the last 30 years was through art, dance, and a substance free life. Caffeine doesn’t count (yet). Now I have yoga. I asked Gabriel around new years if he would join me in this practice, and just like when I proposed. He said yes!

We are 3 weeks into a 6 week intensive yoga marriage course with our Yogi: Heather Stone. We either meditate or practice Yoga for 1 hour a day, we meet with Heather 3 times a week. We are reading The Gifts of Imperfection and the 5 love languages individually, and we come together to discuss what we have read and what truths have been surfaced. We look at what our monkey minds tell us vs. reality, and we slowly & sometimes painfully unearth the deep beliefs that channel who we are and what we believe about ourselves, marriage, partnership and each other. It’s exhausting, and worth it.

So, this brings me back to why I wasn’t upset, because I don’t know the future. I am not a mind-reader. I am no longer willing to discount the why of that cancellation happening, or hopefully anything not going the way I want it to. The yes’s I received in life are karmically equal to the no’s. They mean that this was meant to be, either way. I will leave this Chinese Dao story right here for anyone who may think differently and might want to see a new perspective: Who Knows What’s Good or Bad? <—click here

When my friend cancelled, he told me to please reach out within our photography groups and find someone, so I did & the universe answered! ————->>>>>> Enter our hero: Andy Carretto from Carretto Studios!!! Andy, his wife and I attended a workshop together two years ago! We spent a week walking through the Texas desert, being artists, exchanging life stories, and I could not believe this SUPER talented artist aquaintance was wanting to join us! What a gift from the universe, not only is he an amazing person, he is an incredibly talented photographer and he studied film in Florence!

We can’t wait to practice Yoga here, and there; and we can’t wait to have an adventure of a lifetime, we can’t wait to use this new set of glasses to see our love & destiny differently.

Hooray!

——>Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to find out how to MAKE A CONTRIBUTION to our adventure!

-Memory of the Week-

This memory is from a BBQ on the 4th of July, 2018. We ate some incredible food, met some awesome folks and Maxen almost choked on a piece of candy (he’s obviously fine). I chose this photo because, not only did you look beautiful in that flower dress, but also, it just reminds me of how happy and fulfilled I am when I am with you. It doesn’t matter where we are: bbq, beach, movies, in the car or at home (or Italy!); there is nobody that I would rather have by my side. Every day I wake up, I am grateful for you. You see me, completely. And I see you.

As we prepare ourselves mentally and physically for the next chapter in our lives, I find myself asking myself questions that have never crossed my mind before. And one of the more important questions is: “What do I want?” Of course I want my family healthy and happy, but that’s what I want for them. What do I want for me? The more I thought about this, the harder it became. But the notion that struck immediately was, “I want you.” I know, that right now… and from here till forever, I will always want you. And that gives me strength and confidence. I can be the best father, the best partner, the best friend, etc., because you are mine and I am yours.

Ciao a Tutti

#R&GinItaly

Love,

Gabriel

——————->>>> Just in case you missed it! Here is the link to The Proposal <<—click here

———->>>>>How to contribute:: Leave us a message!

A love note, speech, advice, or any memory you have of all of us, both of us or one of us. These will be read & played at our dinner in Venice, Italy, and included in our home video.

You can:

• text us an audio file from your phone

• text us or e-mail us a letter, audio file or mini video from your phone or computer

• write the message in the comments section of any of our wedding blog posts

• send us a card or letter in the mail to be read out-loud!

We would love to walk through the day knowing that we will sit down to hear the voices or read the words from the people that have helped make us who we are. The people that we love and that love us right back. You will have another chance to say it in person at one of our many elopement locations too, check back for the next announcement! When we know, you’ll know.

THANK YOU Friends, Family and Clients for your love and support!

XOXOXOXOXOXO

-R&G